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USDA Hardiness Zone 8b

Frost Dates for 31001 — Abbeville, Georgia

NOAA 1991–2020 normals from Eastman 1 W, GA (400 ft), 17 miles northeast.

Updated

In Abbeville, the last spring frost (32°F) is around March 5 in half of years and has passed by March 26 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around November 24, as early as November 6 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 263 days (NOAA, Eastman 1 W, GA).

Last spring frost
March 5

50% probability

First fall frost
November 24

50% probability

Growing season
263 days

freeze-free, 50%

Hardiness zone
8b

15 to 20°F (-9.4 to -6.7°C) coldest night

First snow
Rare

median, 1991–2020

Last snow
Rare

median, 1991–2020

Winters with snow
20%

4 of 20 observed

Snow per year
0.1"

NOAA normal

Frost risk by date in Abbeville

Half of springs at Eastman 1 W, GA see their last 32°F night by March 5; only one in ten is past it by February 8, and one in ten still has one after March 26. Planting tender crops after March 13 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after March 18 20%, and after March 26 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 November 24 in half of years, as early as November 6 one year in ten, and holds off past December 17 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 15 days later, around December 9; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is March 14, 12 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 263 days in a typical year, longer than at 87% of the 127 Georgia stations; it reaches 298 days one year in ten and falls short of 236 one year in ten. On average 31 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 March 19, and return around November 10. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 89% of winters and 16°F in 20%.

Spring: the chance of another night this cold after the date
Low90%80%70%60%50%40%30%20%10%
36°FFeb 27Mar 6Mar 12Mar 16Mar 19Mar 23Mar 28Mar 31Apr 7
32°FFeb 8Feb 19Feb 24Mar 1Mar 5Mar 8Mar 13Mar 18Mar 26
28°F99% of yrsJan 17Jan 30Feb 4Feb 11Feb 16Feb 23Mar 1Mar 7Mar 14
24°F89% of yrsJan 2Jan 9Jan 17Jan 25Jan 31Feb 4Feb 12Feb 22Mar 4
20°F54% of yrsDec 25Jan 1Jan 6Jan 11Jan 17Jan 26Jan 30Feb 5Feb 19
16°F20% of yrstoo rare for a date
Fall: the chance the first night this cold has come by the date
Low10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%
36°FOct 29Nov 1Nov 4Nov 8Nov 10Nov 13Nov 16Nov 21Nov 27
32°FNov 6Nov 12Nov 16Nov 19Nov 24Nov 28Dec 1Dec 6Dec 17
28°F99% of yrsNov 18Nov 26Dec 1Dec 4Dec 9Dec 17Dec 26Jan 1Jan 12
24°F89% of yrsDec 2Dec 10Dec 21Dec 28Jan 1Jan 6Jan 12Jan 20Feb 2
20°F54% of yrsDec 11Dec 22Dec 29Jan 2Jan 6Jan 12Jan 18Jan 27Feb 4
16°F20% of yrstoo rare for a date

Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at Eastman 1 W, 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 31001 →Compare Abbeville with another place →

Weather by month in Abbeville

July is the warmest month at Eastman 1 W, GA, averaging 91°F by day and 72°F at night; January is the coldest at 59°F and 38°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from December to January (a 90% chance or more). From April to October the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, February still brings one in 87% of years and March still brings one in 59% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 6,140 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 72% of the 127 Georgia stations. 41% of them (2,530) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 976. Precipitation totals 47.0 inches a year, most in July (4.9") and least in October (2.4"); May to September bring 44% of it.

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Eastman 1 W, GA
MonthHigh °FLow °FPrecip. in32°F nightNights ≤ 32°FGDD 50°F
Jan59384.497%1197
Feb63414.087%6124
Mar70474.459%2278
Apr77533.53%<1452
May84622.70%0711
Jun89694.50%0867
Jul91724.90%0976
Aug90714.50%0956
Sep86663.90%0786
Oct78562.42%<1527
Nov69463.063%3240
Dec61404.891%8124

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Eastman 1 W, GA (400 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, Fitzgerald, GA, 19 miles south of Abbeville, has a last frost 3 days earlier (March 2), a first frost 1 day later (November 25), a season 5 days longer.

Frost dates for 31750 (Fitzgerald) →

When it snows in Abbeville, Georgia

Measurable snow is rare here: only 4 of 20 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Abbeville 4S, GA, 2.7 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

Planting calendar for 31001

What to do and when, from the 50% frost dates for Abbeville, Georgia
WhenWhat to do
December 25 – January 8Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out.
January 8 – January 22Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early.
February 5 – February 19Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil.
March 5 onwardTransplant tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, cucumbersThe average last freeze has passed — still watch the actual forecast.
by September 1Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops.
by November 10Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation.
November 24 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 31001 is 17 miles from Eastman 1 W, GA, which stands at 400 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 3 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 31023 (Eastman). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 31001 in zone 8b, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged 15 to 20°F (-9.4 to -6.7°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 8b places in Georgia