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USDA Hardiness Zone 8a

Frost Dates for 30507 — Gainesville, Georgia

NOAA 1991–2020 normals from Gainesville Gilmer Airport, GA (1,275 ft), 4 miles west.

Updated

In Gainesville, the last spring frost (32°F) is around March 20 in half of years and has passed by April 6 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around November 14, as early as October 31 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 239 days (NOAA, Gainesville Gilmer Airport, GA).

Last spring frost
March 20

50% probability

First fall frost
November 14

50% probability

Growing season
239 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
24%

5 of 21 observed

Snow per year
0.7"

NOAA normal

Frost risk by date in Gainesville

Half of springs at Gainesville Gilmer Airport, GA see their last 32°F night by March 20; only one in ten is past it by March 1, and one in ten still has one after April 6. Planting tender crops after March 28 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 1 20%, and after April 6 10%. The 17 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 56% of the 127 Georgia stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by November 14 in half of years, as early as October 31 one year in ten, and holds off past December 4 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 16 days later, around November 30; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is March 26, 11 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 239 days in a typical year, longer than at 57% of the 127 Georgia stations; it reaches 266 days one year in ten and falls short of 214 one year in ten. On average 42 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 3, and return around November 3. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 99% of winters and 16°F in 60%.

Spring: the chance of another night this cold after the date
Low90%80%70%60%50%40%30%20%10%
36°FMar 16Mar 23Mar 27Mar 30Apr 3Apr 5Apr 8Apr 12Apr 18
32°FMar 1Mar 8Mar 13Mar 17Mar 20Mar 25Mar 28Apr 1Apr 6
28°FFeb 12Feb 21Feb 26Mar 3Mar 7Mar 11Mar 15Mar 19Mar 26
24°F99% of yrsJan 22Jan 31Feb 6Feb 13Feb 18Feb 24Mar 1Mar 8Mar 15
20°F89% of yrsJan 4Jan 12Jan 21Jan 28Feb 1Feb 6Feb 15Feb 24Mar 6
16°F60% of yrsDec 28Jan 5Jan 10Jan 16Jan 22Jan 28Feb 1Feb 9Feb 24
Fall: the chance the first night this cold has come by the date
Low10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%
36°FOct 20Oct 25Oct 29Oct 31Nov 3Nov 5Nov 9Nov 13Nov 18
32°FOct 31Nov 4Nov 7Nov 11Nov 14Nov 18Nov 23Nov 28Dec 4
28°FNov 9Nov 15Nov 20Nov 24Nov 30Dec 3Dec 7Dec 15Dec 25
24°F99% of yrsNov 24Dec 1Dec 6Dec 11Dec 18Dec 24Dec 30Jan 4Jan 13
20°F89% of yrsDec 8Dec 17Dec 23Dec 29Jan 2Jan 7Jan 13Jan 20Jan 30
16°F60% of yrsDec 17Dec 24Dec 31Jan 4Jan 8Jan 13Jan 18Jan 24Feb 3

Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at Gainesville Gilmer 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 30507 →Compare Gainesville with another place →

Weather by month in Gainesville

July is the warmest month at Gainesville Gilmer Airport, GA, averaging 88°F by day and 70°F at night; January is the coldest at 51°F and 34°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from December to February (a 90% chance or more). From May to September the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, March still brings one in 88% of years and April still brings one in 21% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 4,904 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 76% of the 127 Georgia stations. 39% of them (1,925) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 893. Precipitation totals 52.5 inches a year, most in January (5.0") and least in September (3.9"); May to September bring 40% of it.

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Gainesville Gilmer Airport, GA
MonthHigh °FLow °FPrecip. in32°F nightNights ≤ 32°FGDD 50°F
Jan51345.0100%1434
Feb55364.798%948
Mar63434.888%4159
Apr72504.021%<1336
May79584.00%0578
Jun85664.20%0771
Jul88704.40%0893
Aug87694.70%0865
Sep81633.90%0672
Oct72523.912%<1375
Nov62424.281%3126
Dec53364.798%1148

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Gainesville Gilmer Airport, GA (1,275 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, 6 miles northwest of Gainesville, has a last frost 7 days later (March 27), a first frost 2 days earlier (November 12), a season 8 days shorter.

Frost dates for 30506 (Gainesville) →

When it snows in Gainesville, Georgia

Measurable snow is rare here: only 5 of 21 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Commerce 4 NNW, GA, 16.2 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

Planting calendar for 30507

What to do and when, from the 50% frost dates for Gainesville, Georgia
WhenWhat to do
January 9 – January 23Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out.
January 23 – February 6Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early.
February 20 – March 6Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil.
March 20 onwardTransplant tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, cucumbersThe average last freeze has passed — still watch the actual forecast.
by August 22Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops.
by October 31Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation.
November 14 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 30507 is 4 miles from Gainesville Gilmer Airport, GA, which stands at 1,275 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 4 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 30542 (Flowery Branch). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 30507 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