Frost Dates for 38301 — Jackson, Tennessee

Half of springs at Jackson Exp Stn, TN see their last 32°F night by April 2; only one in ten is past it by March 16, and one in ten still has one after April 18. Planting tender crops after April 9 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 12 20%, and after April 18 10%. The 16 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 53% of the 144 Tennessee stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 29 in half of years, as early as October 16 one year in ten, and holds off past November 11 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 9 days later, around November 7; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 8, 10 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 207 days in a typical year, longer than at 59% of the 144 Tennessee stations; it reaches 228 days one year in ten and falls short of 188 one year in ten. On average 71 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 14, and return around October 21. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes in 98% of winters, usually between December 22 and February 10.

July is the warmest month at Jackson Exp Stn, TN, averaging 91°F by day and 69°F at night; January is the coldest at 49°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 56% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 4,912 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 88% of the 144 Tennessee stations. 39% of them (1,918) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 928. Precipitation totals 57.2 inches a year, most in March (5.8") and least in August (3.6"); May to September bring 40% of it.

The nearest other station, Jackson 4 NE, TN, 7 miles north of Jackson, has a last frost 2 days later (April 4), a first frost 1 day later (October 30), a season 1 day longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Jackson usually arrives around January 15, and the last of the season around February 4. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Jackson Exp Stn, TN, 1.7 miles away: half of years saw snow earlier, half later. Snow fell in 88% of those winters. The last 32°F night of spring typically comes 57 days after the last snow.

ZIP 38301 is 2 miles from Jackson Exp Stn, TN, which stands at 400 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 38301 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.