Frost Dates for 38251 — Puryear, Tennessee

Half of springs at Paris 2 SE, TN see their last 32°F night by April 7; only one in ten is past it by March 23, and one in ten still has one after April 22. Planting tender crops after April 13 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 17 20%, and after April 22 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 31 in half of years, as early as October 19 one year in ten, and holds off past November 12 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 8 days later, around November 8; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 11, 11 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 206 days in a typical year, longer than at 54% of the 144 Tennessee stations; it reaches 226 days one year in ten and falls short of 187 one year in ten. On average 87 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 April 19, and return around October 22. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes in 99% of winters, usually between December 22 and February 16.

July is the warmest month at Paris 2 SE, TN, averaging 88°F by day and 68°F at night; January is the coldest at 46°F and 27°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from November to March (a 90% chance or more). From May to September the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, April still brings one in 74% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 4,443 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 52% of the 144 Tennessee stations. 38% of them (1,693) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 866. Precipitation totals 54.9 inches a year, most in May (5.7") and least in August (3.8"); May to September bring 40% of it.

The nearest other station, Murray, KY, 12 miles north of Puryear, has a last frost 2 days earlier (April 5), a first frost 1 day later (November 1), a season 3 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Puryear usually arrives around January 6, and the last of the season around February 15. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Murray, KY, 11.9 miles away: half of years saw snow earlier, half later. Snow fell in 93% of those winters. The last 32°F night of spring typically comes 51 days after the last snow.

ZIP 38251 is 11 miles from Paris 2 SE, TN, which stands at 443 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 2 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 38242 (Paris). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 38251 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.