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USDA Hardiness Zone 8a

Frost Dates for 30041 — Cumming, Georgia

NOAA 1991–2020 normals from Cumming 2N, GA (1,140 ft), 3 miles northwest.

Updated

In Cumming, the last spring frost (32°F) is around April 4 in half of years and has passed by April 19 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around November 4, as early as October 23 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 214 days (NOAA, Cumming 2N, GA).

Last spring frost
April 4

50% probability

First fall frost
November 4

50% probability

Growing season
214 days

freeze-free, 50%

Hardiness zone
8a

10 to 15°F (-12.2 to -9.4°C) coldest night

First snow
Rare

median, 1991–2020

Last snow
Rare

median, 1991–2020

Winters with snow
32%

7 of 22 observed

Snow per year
0.6"

NOAA normal

Frost risk by date in Cumming

Half of springs at Cumming 2N, GA see their last 32°F night by April 4; only one in ten is past it by March 16, and one in ten still has one after April 19. Planting tender crops after April 10 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 14 20%, and after April 19 10%. The 15 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 83% of the 127 Georgia stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by November 4 in half of years, as early as October 23 one year in ten, and holds off past November 23 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 11 days later, around November 15; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 7, 12 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 214 days in a typical year, shorter than at 85% of the 127 Georgia stations; it reaches 241 days one year in ten and falls short of 194 one year in ten. On average 67 nights a year drop to 32°F or below. Nights of 36°F, when frost can still settle on leaves in low, open spots, continue 12 days longer, to about April 16, and return around October 25. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 100% of winters and 16°F in 82%.

Spring: the chance of another night this cold after the date
Low90%80%70%60%50%40%30%20%10%
36°FApr 1Apr 6Apr 9Apr 13Apr 16Apr 18Apr 21Apr 25Apr 30
32°FMar 16Mar 23Mar 29Apr 1Apr 4Apr 7Apr 10Apr 14Apr 19
28°FFeb 26Mar 3Mar 11Mar 16Mar 20Mar 24Mar 28Apr 1Apr 7
24°FFeb 4Feb 13Feb 20Feb 26Mar 1Mar 6Mar 12Mar 18Mar 26
20°F97% of yrsJan 15Jan 27Jan 31Feb 6Feb 11Feb 18Feb 26Mar 3Mar 11
16°F82% of yrsJan 3Jan 12Jan 19Jan 27Jan 31Feb 4Feb 10Feb 21Mar 3
Fall: the chance the first night this cold has come by the date
Low10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%
36°FOct 11Oct 16Oct 20Oct 23Oct 25Oct 27Oct 30Nov 2Nov 7
32°FOct 23Oct 27Oct 30Nov 1Nov 4Nov 6Nov 9Nov 14Nov 23
28°FNov 1Nov 5Nov 8Nov 12Nov 15Nov 20Nov 25Dec 1Dec 5
24°FNov 9Nov 15Nov 22Nov 28Dec 1Dec 5Dec 10Dec 19Dec 30
20°F97% of yrsNov 24Dec 2Dec 7Dec 14Dec 23Dec 30Jan 2Jan 9Jan 17
16°F82% of yrsDec 11Dec 21Dec 28Jan 1Jan 6Jan 11Jan 16Jan 24Feb 2

Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at Cumming 2N, GA, from NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals. Where a temperature is reached in fewer than 99.5% of years, the dates describe only the years that reach it. Not a forecast.

Frost risk on any date in 30041 →Compare Cumming with another place →

Weather by month in Cumming

July is the warmest month at Cumming 2N, GA, averaging 89°F by day and 67°F at night; January is the coldest at 51°F and 31°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from November to March (a 90% chance or more). From May to September the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, April still brings one in 63% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 4,626 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 84% of the 127 Georgia stations. 38% of them (1,768) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 871. Precipitation totals 56.4 inches a year, most in January (5.4") and least in September (4.0"); May to September bring 40% of it.

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Cumming 2N, GA
MonthHigh °FLow °FPrecip. in32°F nightNights ≤ 32°FGDD 50°F
Jan51315.4100%1928
Feb56335.299%1440
Mar63405.294%9132
Apr72464.363%1291
May79564.20%0540
Jun85644.70%0738
Jul89674.90%0871
Aug88674.90%0851
Sep82604.00%0635
Oct73494.034%1350
Nov63394.496%8107
Dec54345.299%1544

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Cumming 2N, GA (1,140 ft), NOAA NCEI. "32°F night": chance of at least one in the month. GDD: growing degree days, base 50°F.

Compared with the next station

The nearest other station, Gainesville, GA, 15 miles northeast of Cumming, has a last frost 8 days earlier (March 27), a first frost 8 days later (November 12), a season 17 days longer.

Frost dates for 30506 (Gainesville) →

When it snows in Cumming, Georgia

Measurable snow is rare here: only 7 of 22 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Cumming 2N, GA, 2.6 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

Planting calendar for 30041

What to do and when, from the 50% frost dates for Cumming, Georgia
WhenWhat to do
January 24 – February 7Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out.
February 7 – February 21Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early.
March 7 – March 21Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil.
April 4 onwardTransplant tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, cucumbersThe average last freeze has passed — still watch the actual forecast.
by August 12Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops.
by October 21Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation.
November 4 onwardPlant garlic, mulch beds, lift tender bulbsGarlic wants a cold spell; bare soil loses structure over winter.

The weeks before and after the 50% dates are general rules of thumb, not NOAA figures; a seed packet gives the timing for each variety.

Where these figures come from

ZIP 30041 is 3 miles from Cumming 2N, GA, which stands at 1,140 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 9 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 30043 (Lawrenceville). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 30041 in zone 8a, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged 10 to 15°F (-12.2 to -9.4°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.

Frost dates across Georgia →

Hardiness zone and temperature range: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023 (USDA-ARS, Oregon State University), ZIP-code listing, unchanged. °C converted from °F by this site.

Thirty-year averages, not a forecast: check the forecast before planting out. How stations are matched and which pages are offered to search engines: methodology.

ZIP codes measured at the same station

Other zone 8a places in Georgia