Frost Dates for 31774 — Ocilla, Georgia

Half of springs at Fitzgerald, GA see their last 32°F night by March 2; only one in ten is past it by February 4, and one in ten still has one after March 22. Planting tender crops after March 10 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after March 16 20%, and after March 22 10%. The 20 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 70% of the 127 Georgia stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by November 25 in half of years, as early as November 6 one year in ten, and holds off past December 19 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 17 days later, around December 12; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is March 13, 9 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 268 days in a typical year, longer than at 91% of the 127 Georgia stations; it reaches 299 days one year in ten and falls short of 241 one year in ten. On average 25 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 17, and return around November 11. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 82% of winters and 16°F in 13%.

July is the warmest month at Fitzgerald, GA, averaging 92°F by day and 73°F at night; January is the coldest at 60°F and 39°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 86% of years and March still brings one in 53% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 6,298 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 81% of the 127 Georgia stations. 42% of them (2,619) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 1,006. Precipitation totals 47.6 inches a year, most in August (5.6") and least in May (2.6"); May to September bring 43% of it.

The nearest other station, Tifton, GA, 15 miles southwest of Ocilla, has a last frost 9 days later (March 11), a first frost 6 days earlier (November 19), a season 14 days shorter.

Measurable snow is rare here: only 0 of 15 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Fitzgerald, GA, 8.7 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

ZIP 31774 is 9 miles from Fitzgerald, GA, which stands at 370 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 31750 (Fitzgerald). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 31774 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.