Frost Dates for 30606 — Athens, Georgia

Half of springs at Athens Ben Epps Airport, GA see their last 32°F night by March 23; only one in ten is past it by March 2, and one in ten still has one after April 10. Planting tender crops after March 31 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 4 20%, and after April 10 10%. The 18 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 41% of the 127 Georgia stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by November 10 in half of years, as early as October 28 one year in ten, and holds off past November 27 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 15 days later, around November 25; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is March 27, 14 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 232 days in a typical year, shorter than at 56% of the 127 Georgia stations; it reaches 260 days one year in ten and falls short of 208 one year in ten. On average 46 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 13 days longer, to about April 5, and return around October 31. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 100% of winters and 16°F in 57%.

July is the warmest month at Athens Ben Epps Airport, GA, averaging 92°F by day and 70°F at night; January is the coldest at 55°F and 34°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from November 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 28% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 5,403 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 54% of the 127 Georgia stations. 40% of them (2,159) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 961. Precipitation totals 49.1 inches a year, most in June (4.9") and least in May (3.3"); May to September bring 43% of it.

The nearest other station, Winterville, GA, 7 miles east of Athens, has a last frost 10 days later (April 2), a first frost 8 days earlier (November 2), a season 15 days shorter.

Measurable snow is rare here: only 6 of 15 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Athens Ben Epps Airport, GA, 5.2 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

ZIP 30606 is 5 miles from Athens Ben Epps Airport, GA, which stands at 785 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 4 other ZIP codes share the station. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 30606 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.