Frost Dates for 31501 — Waycross, Georgia

Half of springs at Waycross 4 NE, GA see their last 32°F night by March 15; only one in ten is past it by February 20, and one in ten still has one after April 3. Planting tender crops after March 24 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after March 29 20%, and after April 3 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 17 in half of years, as early as October 31 one year in ten, and holds off past December 6 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 14 days later, around December 1; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is March 23, 11 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 246 days in a typical year, longer than at 63% of the 127 Georgia stations; it reaches 278 days one year in ten and falls short of 220 one year in ten. On average 41 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 16 days longer, to about March 31, and return around November 6. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 96% of winters and 16°F in 26%.

July is the warmest month at Waycross 4 NE, GA, averaging 94°F by day and 71°F at night; January is the coldest at 64°F and 37°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 78% of years and April still brings one in 12% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 6,610 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 92% of the 127 Georgia stations. 42% of them (2,754) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 1,015. Precipitation totals 50.4 inches a year, most in June (6.8") and least in November (2.2"); May to September bring 54% of it.

The nearest other station, Alma Bacon Co Airport, GA, 24 miles northwest of Waycross, has a last frost 4 days earlier (March 11), a first frost 3 days later (November 20), a season 10 days longer.

Measurable snow is rare here: only 0 of 20 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Waycross 4 NE, GA, 3.1 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

ZIP 31501 is 3 miles from Waycross 4 NE, GA, which stands at 145 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 31503 (Waycross). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 31501 in zone 9a, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged 20 to 25°F (-6.7 to -3.9°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.