USDA Hardiness Zone 8a
Frost Dates for 30217 — Franklin, Georgia
NOAA 1991–2020 normals from Rock Mills, AL (750 ft), 14 miles southwest.
Updated
In Franklin, the last spring frost (32°F) is around April 2 in half of years and has passed by April 18 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around November 3, as early as October 21 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 216 days (NOAA, Rock Mills, AL).
- Last spring frost
- April 2
- First fall frost
- November 3
- Growing season
- 216 days
- Hardiness zone
- 8a
50% probability
50% probability
freeze-free, 50%
10 to 15°F (-12.2 to -9.4°C) coldest night
- First snow
- Rare
- Last snow
- Rare
- Winters with snow
- 20%
- Snow per year
- 0.6"
median, 1991–2020
median, 1991–2020
5 of 25 observed
NOAA normal
Frost risk by date in Franklin
Half of springs at Rock Mills, AL see their last 32°F night by April 2; only one in ten is past it by March 13, and one in ten still has one after April 18. Planting tender crops after April 9 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 13 20%, and after April 18 10%. The 16 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 70% of the 127 Georgia stations behind this site's ZIP pages.
In fall the first 32°F night comes by November 3 in half of years, as early as October 21 one year in ten, and holds off past November 19 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 11 days later, around November 14; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 6, 12 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 216 days in a typical year, shorter than at 82% of the 127 Georgia stations; it reaches 240 days one year in ten and falls short of 191 one year in ten. On average 73 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 April 16, and return around October 24. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 100% of winters and 16°F in 79%.
| Low | 90% | 80% | 70% | 60% | 50% | 40% | 30% | 20% | 10% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Mar 30 | Apr 5 | Apr 10 | Apr 12 | Apr 16 | Apr 19 | Apr 22 | Apr 27 | May 1 |
| 32°F | Mar 13 | Mar 20 | Mar 26 | Mar 30 | Apr 2 | Apr 5 | Apr 9 | Apr 13 | Apr 18 |
| 28°F | Feb 24 | Mar 3 | Mar 8 | Mar 13 | Mar 17 | Mar 22 | Mar 27 | Mar 31 | Apr 6 |
| 24°F | Feb 2 | Feb 12 | Feb 20 | Feb 25 | Feb 28 | Mar 5 | Mar 10 | Mar 15 | Mar 22 |
| 20°F98% of yrs | Jan 13 | Jan 24 | Jan 31 | Feb 3 | Feb 9 | Feb 16 | Feb 23 | Mar 1 | Mar 10 |
| 16°F79% of yrs | Dec 31 | Jan 11 | Jan 17 | Jan 23 | Jan 28 | Jan 31 | Feb 4 | Feb 11 | Feb 25 |
| Low | 10% | 20% | 30% | 40% | 50% | 60% | 70% | 80% | 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Oct 11 | Oct 15 | Oct 18 | Oct 21 | Oct 24 | Oct 27 | Oct 30 | Nov 2 | Nov 6 |
| 32°F | Oct 21 | Oct 25 | Oct 29 | Nov 1 | Nov 3 | Nov 5 | Nov 8 | Nov 12 | Nov 19 |
| 28°F | Nov 1 | Nov 4 | Nov 8 | Nov 11 | Nov 14 | Nov 18 | Nov 22 | Nov 27 | Dec 1 |
| 24°F | Nov 11 | Nov 18 | Nov 23 | Nov 28 | Dec 1 | Dec 3 | Dec 7 | Dec 14 | Dec 25 |
| 20°F98% of yrs | Nov 24 | Dec 1 | Dec 6 | Dec 12 | Dec 20 | Dec 26 | Jan 1 | Jan 7 | Jan 18 |
| 16°F79% of yrs | Dec 6 | Dec 16 | Dec 25 | Dec 31 | Jan 3 | Jan 7 | Jan 13 | Jan 21 | Feb 1 |
Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at Rock Mills, AL, 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 30217 →Compare Franklin with another place →
Weather by month in Franklin
August is the warmest month at Rock Mills, AL, averaging 89°F by day and 68°F at night; January is the coldest at 54°F and 32°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 54% of years.
Warmth for growing adds up to 5,053 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 69% of the 127 Georgia stations. 40% of them (2,046) have built up by the end of June, and August adds the most, 873. Precipitation totals 53.1 inches a year, most in January (5.3") and least in October (2.8"); May to September bring 39% of it.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | 32°F night | Nights ≤ 32°F | GDD 50°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 54 | 32 | 5.3 | 100% | 19 | 43 |
| Feb | 60 | 36 | 5.3 | 100% | 15 | 68 |
| Mar | 68 | 42 | 5.2 | 95% | 8 | 192 |
| Apr | 75 | 48 | 4.4 | 54% | 2 | 355 |
| May | 82 | 57 | 4.1 | 0% | 0 | 606 |
| Jun | 87 | 65 | 4.9 | 0% | 0 | 783 |
| Jul | 89 | 68 | 4.5 | 0% | 0 | 871 |
| Aug | 89 | 68 | 4.0 | 0% | 0 | 873 |
| Sep | 85 | 61 | 3.4 | 0% | 0 | 685 |
| Oct | 75 | 49 | 2.8 | 38% | 2 | 386 |
| Nov | 65 | 40 | 4.1 | 98% | 11 | 133 |
| Dec | 57 | 35 | 5.1 | 100% | 17 | 59 |
Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Rock Mills, AL (750 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, Newnan 7 WNW, GA, 14 miles northeast of Franklin, has a last frost 1 day later (April 3), a first frost 1 day earlier (November 2), a season 2 days shorter.
When it snows in Franklin, Georgia
Measurable snow is rare here: only 5 of 25 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Carrollton, GA, 20.8 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.
Planting calendar for 30217
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| January 22 – February 5 | Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out. |
| February 5 – February 19 | Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early. |
| March 5 – March 19 | Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil. |
| April 2 onward | Transplant tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, cucumbersThe average last freeze has passed — still watch the actual forecast. |
| by August 11 | Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops. |
| by October 20 | Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation. |
| November 3 onward | Plant 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 30217 is 14 miles from Rock Mills, AL, which stands at 750 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 2 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 36274 (Roanoke). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 30217 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.
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.