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USDA Hardiness Zone 7b

Frost Dates for 30555 — Mc Caysville, Georgia

NOAA 1991–2020 normals from Murphy 4ESE, NC (1,600 ft), 25 miles east.

Updated

In Mc Caysville, the last spring frost (32°F) is around April 22 in half of years and has passed by May 7 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around October 20, as early as October 8 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 180 days (NOAA, Murphy 4ESE, NC).

Last spring frost
April 22

50% probability

First fall frost
October 20

50% probability

Growing season
180 days

freeze-free, 50%

Hardiness zone
7b

5 to 10°F (-15.0 to -12.2°C) coldest night

First snow
Rare

median, 1991–2020

Last snow
Rare

median, 1991–2020

Winters with snow
33%

8 of 24 observed

Snow per year
3.1"

NOAA normal

Frost risk by date in Mc Caysville

Half of springs at Murphy 4ESE, NC see their last 32°F night by April 22; only one in ten is past it by April 7, and one in ten still has one after May 7. Planting tender crops after April 30 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 2 20%, and after May 7 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 October 20 in half of years, as early as October 8 one year in ten, and holds off past November 2 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 10 days later, around October 30; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 27, 10 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 180 days in a typical year, shorter than at 99% of the 127 Georgia stations; it reaches 200 days one year in ten and falls short of 160 one year in ten. On average 103 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 12 days longer, to about May 4, and return around October 13. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between December 8 and February 24.

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

Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at Murphy 4ESE, NC, 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 30555 →Compare Mc Caysville with another place →

Weather by month in Mc Caysville

July is the warmest month at Murphy 4ESE, NC, averaging 87°F by day and 63°F at night; January is the coldest at 50°F and 25°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from November to April (a 90% chance or more). From June to September the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, May still brings one in 26% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 3,839 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 96% of the 127 Georgia stations. 37% of them (1,412) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 772. Precipitation totals 59.5 inches a year, most in December (6.0") and least in October (3.5"); May to September bring 41% of it.

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Murphy 4ESE, NC
MonthHigh °FLow °FPrecip. in32°F nightNights ≤ 32°FGDD 50°F
Jan50255.1100%2215
Feb54285.3100%1919
Mar62345.3100%1580
Apr71415.296%5218
May78514.826%<1440
Jun84595.40%0640
Jul87635.30%0772
Aug86624.70%0749
Sep81564.31%0557
Oct72433.585%5261
Nov61334.6100%1666
Dec53286.0100%2124

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Murphy 4ESE, NC (1,600 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, Chatsworth 2, GA, 26 miles southwest of Mc Caysville and 890 feet lower, has a last frost 20 days earlier (April 2), a first frost 12 days later (November 1), a season 32 days longer.

Frost dates for 30705 (Chatsworth) →

When it snows in Mc Caysville, Georgia

Measurable snow is rare here: only 8 of 24 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Blairsville Exp Stn, GA, 27.1 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

Planting calendar for 30555

What to do and when, from the 50% frost dates for Mc Caysville, Georgia
WhenWhat to do
February 11 – February 25Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out.
February 25 – March 11Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early.
March 25 – April 8Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil.
April 22 onwardTransplant tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, cucumbersThe average last freeze has passed — still watch the actual forecast.
by July 28Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops.
by October 6Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation.
October 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 30555 is 25 miles from Murphy 4ESE, NC, which stands at 1,600 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. That is farther than 25 miles, so local frost can differ noticeably from these figures. 4 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 28906 (Murphy). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 30555 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.

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 7b places in Georgia