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USDA Hardiness Zone 7a

Frost Dates for 38570 — Livingston, Tennessee

NOAA 1991–2020 normals from Livingston Radio Wliv, TN (975 ft), under a mile west.

Updated

In Livingston, the last spring frost (32°F) is around April 12 in half of years and has passed by April 30 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around October 25, as early as October 12 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 195 days (NOAA, Livingston Radio Wliv, TN).

Last spring frost
April 12

50% probability

First fall frost
October 25

50% probability

Growing season
195 days

freeze-free, 50%

Hardiness zone
7a

0 to 5°F (-17.8 to -15.0°C) coldest night

First snow
January 24

median, 1991–2020

Last snow
February 11

median, 1991–2020

Winters with snow
67%

14 of 21 observed

Snow per year
2.3"

NOAA normal

Frost risk by date in Livingston

Half of springs at Livingston Radio Wliv, TN see their last 32°F night by April 12; only one in ten is past it by March 28, and one in ten still has one after April 30. Planting tender crops after April 20 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 24 20%, and after April 30 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 25 in half of years, as early as October 12 one year in ten, and holds off past November 6 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 9 days later, around November 3; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 15, 15 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 195 days in a typical year, shorter than at 71% of the 144 Tennessee stations; it reaches 216 days one year in ten and falls short of 173 one year in ten. On average 90 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 14 days longer, to about April 26, and return around October 17. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes in 99% of winters, usually between December 18 and February 21.

Spring: the chance of another night this cold after the date
Low90%80%70%60%50%40%30%20%10%
36°FApr 9Apr 15Apr 18Apr 22Apr 26Apr 30May 2May 7May 11
32°FMar 28Apr 2Apr 5Apr 9Apr 12Apr 15Apr 20Apr 24Apr 30
28°FMar 13Mar 20Mar 26Mar 29Apr 1Apr 4Apr 7Apr 10Apr 15
24°FFeb 27Mar 6Mar 11Mar 16Mar 20Mar 24Mar 28Mar 31Apr 4
20°FFeb 10Feb 19Feb 26Mar 3Mar 7Mar 11Mar 15Mar 21Mar 27
16°F99% of yrsJan 23Feb 1Feb 7Feb 14Feb 21Feb 27Mar 4Mar 11Mar 18
Fall: the chance the first night this cold has come by the date
Low10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%
36°FOct 5Oct 9Oct 12Oct 15Oct 17Oct 19Oct 22Oct 25Oct 29
32°FOct 12Oct 17Oct 20Oct 23Oct 25Oct 28Oct 31Nov 2Nov 6
28°FOct 21Oct 26Oct 30Nov 1Nov 3Nov 6Nov 9Nov 13Nov 19
24°FNov 1Nov 4Nov 8Nov 11Nov 14Nov 18Nov 22Nov 28Dec 3
20°FNov 9Nov 15Nov 20Nov 27Dec 1Dec 3Dec 9Dec 16Dec 25
16°F99% of yrsNov 21Dec 1Dec 5Dec 12Dec 18Dec 24Dec 29Jan 3Jan 12

Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at Livingston Radio Wliv, 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 38570 →Compare Livingston with another place →

Weather by month in Livingston

July is the warmest month at Livingston Radio Wliv, TN, averaging 87°F by day and 66°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 May to September the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, April still brings one in 80% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 4,178 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 70% of the 144 Tennessee stations. 37% of them (1,564) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 825. Precipitation totals 53.6 inches a year, most in December (5.5") and least in October (2.9"); May to September bring 42% of it.

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Livingston Radio Wliv, TN
MonthHigh °FLow °FPrecip. in32°F nightNights ≤ 32°FGDD 50°F
Jan47274.7100%2122
Feb51304.7100%1829
Mar60365.099%1296
Apr70444.880%3249
May77544.79%<1479
Jun84624.80%0690
Jul87664.60%0825
Aug87654.30%0797
Sep81583.90%0593
Oct71452.972%3285
Nov60363.7100%1385
Dec50315.5100%1931

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Livingston Radio Wliv, TN (975 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, Monterey, TN, 16 miles south of Livingston and 885 feet higher, has a last frost 2 days earlier (April 10), a first frost 5 days later (October 30), a season 8 days longer.

Frost dates for 38574 (Monterey) →

When it snows in Livingston, Tennessee

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Livingston usually arrives around January 24, and the last of the season around February 11. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Livingston Radio Wliv, TN, 0.6 miles away: half of years saw snow earlier, half later. Snow fell in 67% of those winters. The last 32°F night of spring typically comes 60 days after the last snow.

Planting calendar for 38570

What to do and when, from the 50% frost dates for Livingston, Tennessee
WhenWhat to do
February 1 – February 15Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out.
February 15 – March 1Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early.
March 15 – March 29Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil.
April 12 onwardTransplant tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, cucumbersThe average last freeze has passed — still watch the actual forecast.
by August 2Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops.
by October 11Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation.
October 25 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 38570 is under a mile from Livingston Radio Wliv, TN, which stands at 975 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 1 other ZIP code shares the station. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 38570 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.

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 7a places in Tennessee