Frost Dates for 31012 — Chester, Georgia

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%.

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.

The nearest other station, Dublin, GA, 19 miles northeast of Chester and 170 feet lower, has a last frost 9 days later (March 14), a first frost 11 days earlier (November 13), a season 16 days shorter.

Measurable snow is rare here: only 0 of 24 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Eastman 1 W, GA, 13.7 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

ZIP 31012 is 14 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 31012 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.