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USDA Hardiness Zone 8a

Frost Dates for 30621 — Bishop, Georgia

NOAA 1991–2020 normals from Watkinsville 5 SSE, GA (741 ft), 6 miles east.

Updated

In Bishop, the last spring frost (32°F) is around March 24 in half of years and has passed by April 12 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around November 12, as early as October 31 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 234 days (NOAA, Watkinsville 5 SSE, GA).

Last spring frost
March 24

50% probability

First fall frost
November 12

50% probability

Growing season
234 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
0%

0 of 20 observed

Snow per year
0"

NOAA normal

Frost risk by date in Bishop

Half of springs at Watkinsville 5 SSE, GA see their last 32°F night by March 24; only one in ten is past it by March 1, and one in ten still has one after April 12. Planting tender crops after April 2 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 5 20%, and after April 12 10%. The 19 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 60% 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 2 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 16 days later, around November 28; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is March 28, 15 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 234 days in a typical year, shorter than at 51% of the 127 Georgia stations; it reaches 263 days one year in ten and falls short of 207 one year in ten. On average 45 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 7, and return around November 1. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 98% of winters and 16°F in 52%.

Spring: the chance of another night this cold after the date
Low90%80%70%60%50%40%30%20%10%
36°FMar 20Mar 26Apr 1Apr 3Apr 7Apr 11Apr 14Apr 18Apr 22
32°FMar 1Mar 10Mar 15Mar 19Mar 24Mar 28Apr 2Apr 5Apr 12
28°FFeb 6Feb 17Feb 24Feb 28Mar 5Mar 11Mar 15Mar 21Mar 28
24°F98% of yrsJan 20Jan 28Feb 2Feb 8Feb 15Feb 21Feb 28Mar 5Mar 14
20°F86% of yrsJan 2Jan 9Jan 17Jan 24Jan 29Feb 2Feb 8Feb 18Mar 1
16°F52% of yrsDec 30Jan 6Jan 11Jan 16Jan 21Jan 25Jan 29Feb 3Feb 14
Fall: the chance the first night this cold has come by the date
Low10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%
36°FOct 18Oct 23Oct 27Oct 29Nov 1Nov 3Nov 5Nov 9Nov 16
32°FOct 31Nov 3Nov 6Nov 9Nov 12Nov 16Nov 19Nov 25Dec 2
28°FNov 10Nov 15Nov 19Nov 24Nov 28Dec 1Dec 6Dec 14Dec 25
24°F98% of yrsNov 21Nov 30Dec 4Dec 9Dec 17Dec 23Dec 29Jan 4Jan 13
20°F86% of yrsDec 6Dec 15Dec 24Dec 30Jan 2Jan 7Jan 12Jan 19Jan 31
16°F52% of yrsDec 21Dec 30Jan 2Jan 6Jan 10Jan 15Jan 20Jan 25Feb 2

Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at Watkinsville 5 SSE, 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 30621 →Compare Bishop with another place →

Weather by month in Bishop

July is the warmest month at Watkinsville 5 SSE, GA, averaging 90°F by day and 69°F at night; January is the coldest at 54°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 86% of years and April still brings one in 33% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 5,069 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 68% of the 127 Georgia stations. 40% of them (2,012) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 904. Precipitation totals 47.8 inches a year, most in December (4.9") and least in May (2.7"); May to September bring 40% of it.

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Watkinsville 5 SSE, GA
MonthHigh °FLow °FPrecip. in32°F nightNights ≤ 32°FGDD 50°F
Jan54344.3100%1549
Feb58374.397%1068
Mar65434.686%4174
Apr73493.633%1339
May81582.70%0595
Jun87664.30%0786
Jul90693.80%0904
Aug88684.30%0869
Sep83634.00%0682
Oct74523.412%<1399
Nov64423.685%4140
Dec56374.997%1162

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Watkinsville 5 SSE, GA (741 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, U Of Ga Plt Sci, GA, 6 miles northwest of Bishop, has a last frost 3 days later (March 27), a first frost 4 days earlier (November 8), a season 6 days shorter.

Frost dates for 30622 (Bogart) →

When it snows in Bishop, Georgia

Measurable snow is rare here: only 0 of 20 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at U Of Ga Plt Sci, GA, 5.6 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

Planting calendar for 30621

What to do and when, from the 50% frost dates for Bishop, Georgia
WhenWhat to do
January 13 – January 27Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out.
January 27 – February 10Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early.
February 24 – March 10Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil.
March 24 onwardTransplant tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, cucumbersThe average last freeze has passed — still watch the actual forecast.
by August 20Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops.
by October 29Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation.
November 12 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 30621 is 6 miles from Watkinsville 5 SSE, GA, which stands at 741 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 30677 (Watkinsville). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 30621 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