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USDA Hardiness Zone 7a

Frost Dates for 38573 — Monroe, Tennessee

NOAA 1991–2020 normals from Byrdstown, TN (880 ft), 8 miles northeast.

Updated

In Monroe, 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 13 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 196 days (NOAA, Byrdstown, TN).

Last spring frost
April 12

50% probability

First fall frost
October 25

50% probability

Growing season
196 days

freeze-free, 50%

Hardiness zone
7a

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

First snow
December 12

median, 1991–2020

Last snow
March 18

median, 1991–2020

Winters with snow
100%

22 of 22 observed

Snow per year
18.9"

NOAA normal

Frost risk by date in Monroe

Half of springs at Byrdstown, 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 13 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 16, 14 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 196 days in a typical year, shorter than at 69% of the 144 Tennessee stations; it reaches 216 days one year in ten and falls short of 173 one year in ten. On average 94 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 16. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes in 99% of winters, usually between December 20 and February 20.

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

Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at Byrdstown, 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 38573 →Compare Monroe with another place →

Weather by month in Monroe

July is the warmest month at Byrdstown, TN, averaging 85°F by day and 67°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 82% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 4,023 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 81% of the 144 Tennessee stations. 38% of them (1,534) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 792. Precipitation totals 54.6 inches a year, most in July (5.3") and least in October (3.3"); May to September bring 41% of it.

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Byrdstown, TN
MonthHigh °FLow °FPrecip. in32°F nightNights ≤ 32°FGDD 50°F
Jan46274.5100%2321
Feb50295.0100%1929
Mar59365.0100%1297
Apr70445.282%3250
May76544.910%0467
Jun82634.70%0670
Jul85675.30%0792
Aug84644.10%0756
Sep80573.60%0556
Oct70453.374%3273
Nov59363.7100%1378
Dec49305.3100%2033

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Byrdstown, TN (880 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, Livingston Radio Wliv, TN, 10 miles southwest of Monroe, has the same 50% last-frost date, the same first-frost date, a season 1 day shorter.

Frost dates for 38570 (Livingston) →

When it snows in Monroe, Tennessee

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Monroe usually arrives around December 12, and the last of the season around March 18. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Jamestown, TN, 15.2 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 25 days after the last snow.

Planting calendar for 38573

What to do and when, from the 50% frost dates for Monroe, 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 38573 is 8 miles from Byrdstown, TN, which stands at 880 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 42602 (Albany). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 38573 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