Frost Dates for 31803 — Buena Vista, Georgia

Half of springs at Plains SW Ga Exp Stn, GA see their last 32°F night by March 15; only one in ten is past it by February 22, and one in ten still has one after April 2. Planting tender crops after March 23 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after March 28 20%, and after April 2 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 17 in half of years, as early as November 1 one year in ten, and holds off past December 9 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 21, 12 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 249 days in a typical year, longer than at 67% of the 127 Georgia stations; it reaches 278 days one year in ten and falls short of 223 one year in ten. On average 42 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 97% of winters and 16°F in 39%.

July is the warmest month at Plains SW Ga Exp Stn, GA, averaging 90°F by day and 71°F at night; January is the coldest at 58°F and 36°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from December to February (a 90% chance or more). From May to October the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, March still brings one in 79% of years and April still brings one in 13% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 5,771 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 59% of the 127 Georgia stations. 41% of them (2,357) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 947. Precipitation totals 50.8 inches a year, most in December (5.3") and least in October (2.7"); May to September bring 42% of it.

The nearest other station, Lumpkin 2 SE, GA, 25 miles southwest of Buena Vista, has a last frost 17 days later (April 1), a first frost 13 days earlier (November 4), a season 32 days shorter.

Measurable snow is rare here: only 0 of 22 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Buena Vista, GA, 0.2 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

ZIP 31803 is 21 miles from Plains SW Ga Exp Stn, GA, which stands at 500 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 1 other ZIP code shares the station. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 31803 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.