Frost Dates for 30504 — Gainesville, Georgia

Half of springs at Gainesville, GA see their last 32°F night by March 27; only one in ten is past it by March 6, and one in ten still has one after April 11. Planting tender crops after April 2 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 5 20%, and after April 11 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 12 in half of years, as early as October 31 one year in ten, and holds off past December 1 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 14 days later, around November 26; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is March 31, 11 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 231 days in a typical year, shorter than at 58% of the 127 Georgia stations; it reaches 257 days one year in ten and falls short of 209 one year in ten. On average 53 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 11 days longer, to about April 7, and return around November 1. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 99% of winters and 16°F in 68%.

July is the warmest month at Gainesville, GA, averaging 88°F by day and 68°F at night; January is the coldest at 51°F and 31°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from December 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 34% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 4,538 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 88% of the 127 Georgia stations. 38% of them (1,730) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 862. Precipitation totals 55.6 inches a year, most in January (5.3") and least in July (3.9"); May to September bring 39% of it.

The nearest other station, Gainesville Gilmer Airport, GA, 2 miles east of Gainesville, has a last frost 7 days earlier (March 20), a first frost 2 days later (November 14), a season 8 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Gainesville usually arrives around January 13, and the last of the season around January 18. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Gainesville, GA, 1.9 miles away: half of years saw snow earlier, half later. Snow fell in 67% of those winters. The last 32°F night of spring typically comes 68 days after the last snow.

ZIP 30504 is 2 miles from Gainesville, GA, which stands at 1,170 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 30506 (Gainesville). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 30504 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.