Frost Dates for 32565 — Jay, Florida

Half of springs at Milton Exp Stn, FL 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 3. Planting tender crops after March 24 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after March 28 20%, and after April 3 10%. The 19 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 88% of the 101 Florida stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by November 13 in half of years, as early as October 30 one year in ten, and holds off past December 2 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 11 days later, around November 24; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is March 22, 12 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 241 days in a typical year, shorter than at 99% of the 102 Florida stations; it reaches 269 days one year in ten and falls short of 217 one year in ten. On average 31 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 30, and return around November 3. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 97% of winters and 16°F in 42%.

July is the warmest month at Milton Exp Stn, FL, averaging 91°F by day and 69°F at night; January is the coldest at 60°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 September the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, March still brings one in 78% of years and April still brings one in 14% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 5,987 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), the fewest of the 158 Florida stations. 41% of them (2,473) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 932. Precipitation totals 67.8 inches a year, most in July (7.7") and least in May (3.8"); May to September bring 48% of it.

The nearest other station, Brewton 3 SSE, AL, 12 miles northeast of Jay, has a last frost 5 days earlier (March 10), a first frost 2 days later (November 15), a season 10 days longer.

Measurable snow is rare here: only 1 of 18 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Milton Exp Stn, FL, 8.5 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

ZIP 32565 is 9 miles from Milton Exp Stn, FL, which stands at 217 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 32565 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.