Frost Dates for 31537 — Folkston, Georgia

Half of springs at Folkston 9 SW, GA see their last 32°F night by February 26; only one in ten is past it by January 29, and one in ten still has one after March 21. Planting tender crops after March 7 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after March 14 20%, and after March 21 10%. The 23 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 92% 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 December 7 in half of years, as early as November 16 one year in ten, and holds off past January 7 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 23 days later, around December 30; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is March 6, 15 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 285 days in a typical year, longer than at 97% of the 127 Georgia stations; it reaches 320 days one year in ten and falls short of 252 one year in ten. On average 17 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 15 days longer, to about March 13, and return around November 22. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 61% of winters and 16°F in 6%.

July is the warmest month at Folkston 9 SW, GA, averaging 94°F by day and 73°F at night; January is the coldest at 67°F and 44°F. A freezing night is all but certain in 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 74% of years and March still brings one in 43% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 7,545 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), the most of the 127 Georgia stations. 43% of them (3,245) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 1,040. Precipitation totals 53.3 inches a year, most in August (7.8") and least in November (1.9"); May to September bring 58% of it.

The nearest other station, Woodbine, GA, 20 miles east of Folkston, has a last frost 16 days later (March 14), a first frost 12 days earlier (November 25), a season 28 days shorter.

Measurable snow is rare here: only 0 of 20 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Folkston 9 SW, GA, 10.5 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

ZIP 31537 is 11 miles from Folkston 9 SW, GA, which stands at 120 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 1 other ZIP code shares the station; its figures are presented in full for 32046 (Hilliard). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 31537 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.