USDA Hardiness Zone 8b
Frost Dates for 31709 — Americus, Georgia
NOAA 1991–2020 normals from Americus, GA (397 ft), 3 miles southwest.
Updated
In Americus, the last spring frost (32°F) is around March 20 in half of years and has passed by April 7 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around November 14, as early as November 1 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 238 days (NOAA, Americus, GA).
- Last spring frost
- March 20
- First fall frost
- November 14
- Growing season
- 238 days
- Hardiness zone
- 8b
50% probability
50% probability
freeze-free, 50%
15 to 20°F (-9.4 to -6.7°C) coldest night
- First snow
- Rare
- Last snow
- Rare
- Winters with snow
- 18%
- Snow per year
- 0.2"
median, 1991–2020
median, 1991–2020
4 of 22 observed
NOAA normal
Frost risk by date in Americus
Half of springs at Americus, GA see their last 32°F night by March 20; only one in ten is past it by February 26, and one in ten still has one after April 7. Planting tender crops after March 27 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after March 31 20%, and after April 7 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 14 in half of years, as early as November 1 one year in ten, and holds off past December 3 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 14 days later, around November 28; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is March 24, 14 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 238 days in a typical year, longer than at 54% of the 127 Georgia stations; it reaches 268 days one year in ten and falls short of 216 one year in ten. On average 45 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 13 days longer, to about April 2, and return around November 4. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 98% of winters and 16°F in 41%.
| Low | 90% | 80% | 70% | 60% | 50% | 40% | 30% | 20% | 10% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Mar 15 | Mar 21 | Mar 26 | Mar 31 | Apr 2 | Apr 6 | Apr 10 | Apr 15 | Apr 21 |
| 32°F | Feb 26 | Mar 5 | Mar 11 | Mar 16 | Mar 20 | Mar 23 | Mar 27 | Mar 31 | Apr 7 |
| 28°F | Feb 3 | Feb 14 | Feb 21 | Feb 27 | Mar 4 | Mar 9 | Mar 14 | Mar 18 | Mar 24 |
| 24°F98% of yrs | Jan 12 | Jan 24 | Jan 31 | Feb 5 | Feb 13 | Feb 19 | Feb 27 | Mar 5 | Mar 13 |
| 20°F80% of yrs | Jan 1 | Jan 9 | Jan 16 | Jan 22 | Jan 29 | Feb 2 | Feb 7 | Feb 16 | Feb 28 |
| 16°F41% of yrs | too rare for a date | ||||||||
| Low | 10% | 20% | 30% | 40% | 50% | 60% | 70% | 80% | 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Oct 23 | Oct 27 | Oct 30 | Nov 1 | Nov 4 | Nov 6 | Nov 9 | Nov 13 | Nov 18 |
| 32°F | Nov 1 | Nov 4 | Nov 7 | Nov 10 | Nov 14 | Nov 17 | Nov 20 | Nov 26 | Dec 3 |
| 28°F | Nov 7 | Nov 13 | Nov 18 | Nov 23 | Nov 28 | Dec 1 | Dec 6 | Dec 13 | Dec 25 |
| 24°F98% of yrs | Nov 20 | Nov 28 | Dec 3 | Dec 8 | Dec 16 | Dec 25 | Jan 1 | Jan 6 | Jan 15 |
| 20°F80% of yrs | Dec 5 | Dec 15 | Dec 25 | Dec 31 | Jan 3 | Jan 9 | Jan 14 | Jan 22 | Feb 1 |
| 16°F41% of yrs | too rare for a date | ||||||||
Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at Americus, 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 31709 →Compare Americus with another place →
Weather by month in Americus
July is the warmest month at Americus, GA, averaging 91°F by day and 70°F at night; January is the coldest at 59°F and 35°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 84% of years and April still brings one in 19% of years.
Warmth for growing adds up to 5,696 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 57% of the 127 Georgia stations. 40% of them (2,295) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 942. Precipitation totals 53.4 inches a year, most in July (6.0") and least in October (2.7"); May to September bring 43% of it.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | 32°F night | Nights ≤ 32°F | GDD 50°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 59 | 35 | 4.7 | 100% | 15 | 72 |
| Feb | 63 | 38 | 4.7 | 97% | 9 | 99 |
| Mar | 70 | 43 | 4.7 | 84% | 5 | 235 |
| Apr | 77 | 50 | 4.8 | 19% | <1 | 394 |
| May | 84 | 59 | 3.1 | 0% | 0 | 665 |
| Jun | 89 | 66 | 4.8 | 0% | 0 | 831 |
| Jul | 91 | 70 | 6.0 | 0% | 0 | 942 |
| Aug | 90 | 69 | 4.6 | 0% | 0 | 924 |
| Sep | 87 | 64 | 4.4 | 0% | 0 | 759 |
| Oct | 78 | 53 | 2.7 | 10% | <1 | 484 |
| Nov | 68 | 42 | 3.5 | 83% | 5 | 199 |
| Dec | 61 | 37 | 5.4 | 97% | 12 | 93 |
Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Americus, GA (397 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, Plains SW Ga Exp Stn, GA, 9 miles west of Americus, has a last frost 5 days earlier (March 15), a first frost 3 days later (November 17), a season 11 days longer.
When it snows in Americus, Georgia
Measurable snow is rare here: only 4 of 22 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Americus, GA, 3.2 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.
Planting calendar for 31709
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| January 9 – January 23 | Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out. |
| January 23 – February 6 | Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early. |
| February 20 – March 6 | Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil. |
| March 20 onward | Transplant tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, cucumbersThe average last freeze has passed — still watch the actual forecast. |
| by August 22 | Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops. |
| by October 31 | Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation. |
| November 14 onward | Plant 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 31709 is 3 miles from Americus, GA, which stands at 397 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 3 other ZIP codes share the station. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 31709 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.
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.