Frost Dates for 37738 — Gatlinburg, Tennessee

Half of springs at Gatlinburg 2 SW, TN see their last 32°F night by April 17; only one in ten is past it by March 31, and one in ten still has one after May 2. Planting tender crops after April 23 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 28 20%, and after May 2 10%. The 15 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 78% of the 144 Tennessee stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 25 in half of years, as early as October 12 one year in ten, and holds off past November 5 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 10 days later, around November 4; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 21, 11 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 189 days in a typical year, shorter than at 83% of the 144 Tennessee stations; it reaches 211 days one year in ten and falls short of 167 one year in ten. On average 104 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 30, and return around October 16. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes in 98% of winters, usually between December 23 and February 13.

July is the warmest month at Gatlinburg 2 SW, TN, averaging 83°F by day and 63°F at night; January is the coldest at 47°F and 27°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from November to March (a 90% chance or more). From June to September the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, April still brings one in 87% of years and May still brings one in 14% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 3,513 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 95% of the 144 Tennessee stations. 37% of them (1,313) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 707. Precipitation totals 58.2 inches a year, most in July (6.3") and least in October (3.2"); May to September bring 46% of it.

The nearest other station, Sevierville, TN, 15 miles northwest of Gatlinburg and 555 feet lower, has a last frost 11 days earlier (April 6), a first frost 4 days later (October 29), a season 16 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Gatlinburg usually arrives around December 28, and the last of the season around February 27. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Gatlinburg 2 SW, TN, 4.9 miles away: half of years saw snow earlier, half later. Every one of those winters saw snow. The last 32°F night of spring typically comes 49 days after the last snow.

ZIP 37738 is 5 miles from Gatlinburg 2 SW, TN, which stands at 1,454 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 37863 (Pigeon Forge). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 37738 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.