Frost Dates for 37616 — Afton, Tennessee

Half of springs at Greeneville Exp Stn, TN see their last 32°F night by April 20; only one in ten is past it by April 4, and one in ten still has one after May 8. Planting tender crops after April 28 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 3 20%, and after May 8 10%. The 18 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 67% of the 144 Tennessee stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 22 in half of years, as early as October 8 one year in ten, and holds off past November 3 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 10 days later, around November 1; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 24, 14 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 185 days in a typical year, shorter than at 89% of the 144 Tennessee stations; it reaches 206 days one year in ten and falls short of 162 one year in ten. On average 113 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 12 days longer, to about May 2, and return around October 13. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between December 8 and February 27.

July is the warmest month at Greeneville Exp Stn, TN, averaging 87°F by day and 65°F at night; January is the coldest at 48°F and 26°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from November to April (a 90% chance or more). From June to September the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, May still brings one in 25% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 3,996 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 83% of the 144 Tennessee stations. 37% of them (1,478) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 809. Precipitation totals 46.5 inches a year, most in July (5.0") and least in October (2.7"); May to September bring 45% of it.

The nearest other station, Erwin 1 W, TN, 19 miles east of Afton and 400 feet higher, has a last frost 1 day later (April 21), a first frost 1 day later (October 23), a season 2 days shorter.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Afton usually arrives around December 25, and the last of the season around February 27. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Greeneville Exp Stn, TN, 9.5 miles away: half of years saw snow earlier, half later. Snow fell in 97% of those winters. The last 32°F night of spring typically comes 52 days after the last snow.

ZIP 37616 is 10 miles from Greeneville Exp Stn, TN, which stands at 1,320 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 5 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 37743 (Greeneville). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 37616 in zone 7a, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged 0 to 5°F (-17.8 to -15.0°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.