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USDA Hardiness Zone 8a

Frost Dates for 30213 — Fairburn, Georgia

NOAA 1991–2020 normals from Atlanta Hartsfield International Airport, GA (1,010 ft), 10 miles northeast.

Updated

In Fairburn, the last spring frost (32°F) is around March 15 in half of years and has passed by April 4 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around November 20, as early as November 4 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 252 days (NOAA, Atlanta Hartsfield International Airport, GA).

Last spring frost
March 15

50% probability

First fall frost
November 20

50% probability

Growing season
252 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
39%

9 of 23 observed

Snow per year
0.8"

NOAA normal

Frost risk by date in Fairburn

Half of springs at Atlanta Hartsfield International Airport, GA see their last 32°F night by March 15; only one in ten is past it by February 23, and one in ten still has one after April 4. Planting tender crops after March 23 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after March 28 20%, and after April 4 10%. The 20 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 70% of the 127 Georgia stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by November 20 in half of years, as early as November 4 one year in ten, and holds off past December 10 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 15 days later, around December 5; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is March 20, 15 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 252 days in a typical year, longer than at 71% of the 127 Georgia stations; it reaches 281 days one year in ten and falls short of 226 one year in ten. On average 36 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 14 days longer, to about March 29, and return around November 7. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 97% of winters and 16°F in 54%.

Spring: the chance of another night this cold after the date
Low90%80%70%60%50%40%30%20%10%
36°FMar 10Mar 16Mar 20Mar 25Mar 29Apr 2Apr 5Apr 10Apr 16
32°FFeb 23Mar 1Mar 7Mar 12Mar 15Mar 18Mar 23Mar 28Apr 4
28°FFeb 1Feb 11Feb 19Feb 25Feb 28Mar 4Mar 10Mar 15Mar 20
24°F97% of yrsJan 12Jan 22Jan 30Feb 3Feb 11Feb 18Feb 26Mar 3Mar 12
20°F81% of yrsDec 31Jan 10Jan 16Jan 22Jan 28Feb 1Feb 6Feb 17Feb 28
16°F54% of yrsDec 29Jan 6Jan 11Jan 15Jan 20Jan 25Jan 29Feb 2Feb 15
Fall: the chance the first night this cold has come by the date
Low10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%
36°FOct 28Oct 31Nov 3Nov 5Nov 7Nov 11Nov 14Nov 18Nov 25
32°FNov 4Nov 8Nov 13Nov 16Nov 20Nov 23Nov 28Dec 2Dec 10
28°FNov 14Nov 20Nov 26Dec 1Dec 5Dec 9Dec 17Dec 25Jan 3
24°F97% of yrsNov 29Dec 5Dec 13Dec 20Dec 25Dec 30Jan 4Jan 11Jan 19
20°F81% of yrsDec 10Dec 21Dec 26Dec 31Jan 5Jan 9Jan 15Jan 22Feb 1
16°F54% of yrsDec 21Dec 29Jan 3Jan 7Jan 11Jan 15Jan 21Jan 27Feb 3

Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at Atlanta Hartsfield International Airport, 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 30213 →Compare Fairburn with another place →

Weather by month in Fairburn

July is the warmest month at Atlanta Hartsfield International Airport, GA, averaging 90°F by day and 72°F at night; January is the coldest at 54°F and 36°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from December to February (a 90% chance or more). From May to October the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, March still brings one in 77% of years and April still brings one in 15% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 5,606 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 52% of the 127 Georgia stations. 40% of them (2,255) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 959. Precipitation totals 50.6 inches a year, most in July (4.8") and least in October (3.3"); May to September bring 42% of it.

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Atlanta Hartsfield International Airport, GA
MonthHigh °FLow °FPrecip. in32°F nightNights ≤ 32°FGDD 50°F
Jan54364.699%1357
Feb58394.695%883
Mar66454.777%3222
Apr74533.815%<1400
May81613.60%0657
Jun87694.50%0835
Jul90724.80%0959
Aug89714.30%0935
Sep84663.80%0747
Oct74553.33%<1458
Nov64444.074%3176
Dec56384.694%976

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Atlanta Hartsfield International Airport, GA (1,010 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, Jonesboro, GA, 14 miles east of Fairburn, has a last frost 10 days later (March 25), a first frost 8 days earlier (November 12), a season 17 days shorter.

Frost dates for 30281 (Stockbridge) →

When it snows in Fairburn, Georgia

Measurable snow is rare here: only 9 of 23 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Jonesboro, GA, 14 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

Planting calendar for 30213

What to do and when, from the 50% frost dates for Fairburn, Georgia
WhenWhat to do
January 4 – January 18Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out.
January 18 – February 1Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early.
February 15 – March 1Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil.
March 15 onwardTransplant tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, cucumbersThe average last freeze has passed — still watch the actual forecast.
by August 28Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops.
by November 6Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation.
November 20 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 30213 is 10 miles from Atlanta Hartsfield International Airport, GA, which stands at 1,010 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 11 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 30349 (Atlanta). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 30213 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