Skip to content

USDA Hardiness Zone 7b

Frost Dates for 37809 — Midway, Tennessee

NOAA 1991–2020 normals from Greeneville Exp Stn, TN (1,320 ft), 11 miles east.

Updated

In Midway, the last spring frost (32°F) is around April 20 in half of years and has passed by May 8 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around October 22, as early as October 8 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 185 days (NOAA, Greeneville Exp Stn, TN).

Last spring frost
April 20

50% probability

First fall frost
October 22

50% probability

Growing season
185 days

freeze-free, 50%

Hardiness zone
7b

5 to 10°F (-15.0 to -12.2°C) coldest night

First snow
December 25

median, 1991–2020

Last snow
February 27

median, 1991–2020

Winters with snow
97%

29 of 30 observed

Snow per year
7.7"

NOAA normal

Frost risk by date in Midway

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.

Spring: the chance of another night this cold after the date
Low90%80%70%60%50%40%30%20%10%
36°FApr 18Apr 22Apr 26Apr 29May 2May 4May 8May 11May 16
32°FApr 4Apr 9Apr 13Apr 16Apr 20Apr 24Apr 28May 3May 8
28°FMar 22Mar 27Mar 31Apr 2Apr 6Apr 9Apr 13Apr 17Apr 24
24°FMar 6Mar 14Mar 19Mar 23Mar 26Mar 30Apr 1Apr 5Apr 10
20°FFeb 19Feb 27Mar 4Mar 9Mar 14Mar 19Mar 23Mar 27Apr 1
16°FJan 29Feb 6Feb 14Feb 21Feb 27Mar 3Mar 8Mar 16Mar 23
Fall: the chance the first night this cold has come by the date
Low10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%
36°FOct 1Oct 5Oct 8Oct 11Oct 13Oct 16Oct 19Oct 23Oct 28
32°FOct 8Oct 13Oct 16Oct 19Oct 22Oct 25Oct 28Nov 1Nov 3
28°FOct 17Oct 21Oct 25Oct 29Nov 1Nov 2Nov 4Nov 8Nov 12
24°FOct 25Oct 31Nov 3Nov 6Nov 9Nov 13Nov 16Nov 20Nov 27
20°FNov 5Nov 10Nov 14Nov 18Nov 21Nov 26Dec 1Dec 4Dec 14
16°FNov 17Nov 24Nov 29Dec 3Dec 8Dec 14Dec 22Dec 30Jan 7

Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at Greeneville Exp Stn, TN, from NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals. Where a temperature is reached in fewer than 99.5% of years, the dates describe only the years that reach it. Not a forecast.

Frost risk on any date in 37809 →Compare Midway with another place →

Weather by month in Midway

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.

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Greeneville Exp Stn, TN
MonthHigh °FLow °FPrecip. in32°F nightNights ≤ 32°FGDD 50°F
Jan48263.5100%2416
Feb52283.8100%2122
Mar60344.0100%1682
Apr70424.491%7223
May78524.325%1462
Jun84614.30%0673
Jul87655.00%0809
Aug87634.40%0772
Sep82563.00%<1575
Oct72442.780%5268
Nov60333.0100%1869
Dec51294.1100%2226

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Greeneville Exp Stn, TN (1,320 ft), NOAA NCEI. "32°F night": chance of at least one in the month. GDD: growing degree days, base 50°F.

Compared with the next station

The nearest other station, Newport 1 NW, TN, 16 miles southwest of Midway and 284 feet lower, has a last frost 13 days earlier (April 7), a first frost 7 days later (October 29), a season 18 days longer.

Frost dates for 37821 (Newport) →

When it snows in Midway, Tennessee

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Midway 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, 10.7 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.

Planting calendar for 37809

What to do and when, from the 50% frost dates for Midway, Tennessee
WhenWhat to do
February 9 – February 23Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out.
February 23 – March 9Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early.
March 23 – April 6Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil.
April 20 onwardTransplant tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, cucumbersThe average last freeze has passed — still watch the actual forecast.
by July 30Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops.
by October 8Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation.
October 22 onwardPlant garlic, mulch beds, lift tender bulbsGarlic wants a cold spell; bare soil loses structure over winter.

The weeks before and after the 50% dates are general rules of thumb, not NOAA figures; a seed packet gives the timing for each variety.

Where these figures come from

ZIP 37809 is 11 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 37809 in zone 7b, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged 5 to 10°F (-15.0 to -12.2°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.

Frost dates across Tennessee →

Hardiness zone and temperature range: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023 (USDA-ARS, Oregon State University), ZIP-code listing, unchanged. °C converted from °F by this site.

Thirty-year averages, not a forecast: check the forecast before planting out. How stations are matched and which pages are offered to search engines: methodology.

ZIP codes measured at the same station

Other zone 7b places in Tennessee