Frost Dates for 30525 — Clayton, Georgia

Half of springs at Clayton 1 SSW, GA see their last 32°F night by April 10; only one in ten is past it by March 24, and one in ten still has one after May 1. Planting tender crops after April 17 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 22 20%, and after May 1 10%. The 21 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 83% of the 127 Georgia stations behind this site's ZIP pages, so a fixed calendar date is a gamble here.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 29 in half of years, as early as October 15 one year in ten, and holds off past November 12 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 10 days later, around November 8; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 14, 17 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 203 days in a typical year, shorter than at 92% of the 127 Georgia stations; it reaches 225 days one year in ten and falls short of 177 one year in ten. On average 88 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 24, and return around October 20. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes in 90% of winters, usually between January 1 and February 4.

July is the warmest month at Clayton 1 SSW, GA, averaging 85°F by day and 65°F at night; January is the coldest at 50°F and 30°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from November to March (a 90% chance or more). From June to September the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, April still brings one in 71% of years and May still brings one in 11% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 3,973 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 94% of the 127 Georgia stations. 37% of them (1,482) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 780. Precipitation totals 71.8 inches a year, most in December (7.0") and least in May (5.1"); May to September bring 40% of it.

The nearest other station, Mountain City 2 SW, GA, 2 miles north of Clayton and 1,499 feet higher, has a last frost 8 days later (April 18), a first frost 4 days earlier (October 25), a season 12 days shorter.

Measurable snow is rare here: only 6 of 17 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Long Creek, SC, 12.1 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

ZIP 30525 is 1 mile from Clayton 1 SSW, GA, which stands at 1,965 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 30525 in zone 7b, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged 5 to 10°F (-15.0 to -12.2°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.