Frost Dates for 31602 — Valdosta, Georgia

Half of springs at Valdosta 2 S, GA see their last 32°F night by March 5; only one in ten is past it by February 9, and one in ten still has one after March 23. Planting tender crops after March 14 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after March 18 20%, and after March 23 10%. The 18 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 41% of the 127 Georgia stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by November 27 in half of years, as early as November 9 one year in ten, and holds off past December 21 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 19 days later, around December 16; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is March 12, 11 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 267 days in a typical year, longer than at 90% of the 127 Georgia stations; it reaches 298 days one year in ten and falls short of 241 one year in ten. On average 21 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 16. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 84% of winters and 16°F in 9%.

July is the warmest month at Valdosta 2 S, GA, averaging 91°F by day and 71°F at night; January is the coldest at 63°F and 40°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 89% of years and March still brings one in 61% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 6,573 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 90% of the 127 Georgia stations. 42% of them (2,740) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 967.

The nearest other station, Valdosta Regional Airport, GA, 6 miles south of Valdosta, has a last frost 5 days later (March 10), a first frost 6 days earlier (November 21), a season 8 days shorter.

Measurable snow is rare here: only 1 of 19 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Valdosta Regional Airport, GA, 6 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

ZIP 31602 is 5 miles from Valdosta 2 S, GA, which stands at 265 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 5 other ZIP codes share the station. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 31602 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.