Frost dates for Gainesville, GA
At Gainesville, the median last spring frost (32°F) is Mar 27 and the median first fall frost is Nov 12, for a typical growing season of 231 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until Apr 11. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zone 8a.
- Mar 27Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- Apr 11Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Nov 12First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 231 daysGrowing season (median)between 32°F freezes
Last spring frost dates
The chance that the temperature drops to the threshold after each date.
| Temperature | 90% chance later | 50% chance later | 10% chance later |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Mar 22 | Apr 7 | Apr 23 |
| 32°F | Mar 6 | Mar 27 | Apr 11 |
| 28°F | Feb 19 | Mar 12 | Mar 31 |
| 24°F | Jan 28 | Feb 24 | Mar 19 |
First fall frost dates
The chance that the temperature has dropped to the threshold by each date.
| Temperature | 10% chance by | 50% chance by | 90% chance by |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Oct 20 | Nov 1 | Nov 14 |
| 32°F | Oct 31 | Nov 12 | Dec 1 |
| 28°F | Nov 7 | Nov 26 | Dec 20 |
| 24°F | Nov 21 | Dec 13 | Jan 10 |
Growing season length
Days between the last spring and first fall freeze, as the length reached in 9, 5 and 1 out of 10 years.
| Temperature | 9 in 10 years at least | 5 in 10 years at least | 1 in 10 years at least |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | 187 days | 207 days | 228 days |
| 32°F | 209 days | 231 days | 257 days |
| 28°F | 233 days | 260 days | 291 days |
| 24°F | 260 days | 293 days | 325 days |
Chance of a freeze in any year
| Temperature | Chance per year |
|---|---|
| 36°F | 100% |
| 32°F | 100% |
| 28°F | 100% |
| 24°F | 99% |
ZIP codes whose closest station is this one
| ZIP | Hardiness zone | Avg. extreme low | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30504 | 8a | 10 to 15°F | 5 km |
| 30501 | 8a | 10 to 15°F | 5 km |
| 30506 | 8a | 10 to 15°F | 6 km |
Not the official USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Zones shown here are the values published in the USDA-ARS / Oregon State University PRISM Group 2023 ZIP code tables, shown unaltered. For the official interactive map, visit planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.
About this station
- NOAA station ID USC00093621, at 34.3006, -83.8600, elevation 357 m (1,170 ft).
- Data quality: Standard (24+ years of data), 27 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 53.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Gainesville Gilmer Airport (4 km)
- Cumming 2n (26 km)
- Cleveland (33 km)
- Commerce 4 NNW (34 km)
- Alto 4 SE (35 km)
- Cornelia (39 km)
- Sautee 3w (42 km)
- Winder 4s (43 km)
Sources
- NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, annual/seasonal normals by station (version 1.0.1), file dated June 27, 2023; documentation.
- USDA Agricultural Research Service and PRISM Group, Oregon State University, 2023 Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP code tables (CONUS, Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico), files dated November 17, 2023. Data © PRISM Group, Oregon State University, https://prism.oregonstate.edu, accessed November 1, 2026. Official map: planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Gazetteer ZIP Code Tabulation Areas file, dated August 30, 2024 (ZIP centroids used to find the nearest station).
Freeze dates are 30-year probabilities, not forecasts. Check your local forecast before planting tender plants.