Frost dates for Athens, TN
At Athens, the median last spring frost (32°F) is Apr 6 and the median first fall frost is Oct 31, for a typical growing season of 208 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until Apr 24. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zone 7b.
- Apr 6Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- Apr 24Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Oct 31First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 208 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 | Apr 4 | Apr 20 | May 5 |
| 32°F | Mar 20 | Apr 6 | Apr 24 |
| 28°F | Mar 6 | Mar 27 | Apr 10 |
| 24°F | Feb 18 | Mar 12 | Apr 1 |
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 10 | Oct 23 | Nov 3 |
| 32°F | Oct 20 | Oct 31 | Nov 13 |
| 28°F | Oct 30 | Nov 10 | Nov 29 |
| 24°F | Nov 6 | Nov 24 | Dec 18 |
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 | 165 days | 186 days | 206 days |
| 32°F | 187 days | 208 days | 228 days |
| 28°F | 208 days | 230 days | 255 days |
| 24°F | 231 days | 257 days | 288 days |
Chance of a freeze in any year
| Temperature | Chance per year |
|---|---|
| 36°F | 100% |
| 32°F | 100% |
| 28°F | 100% |
| 24°F | 100% |
ZIP codes whose closest station is this one
| ZIP | Hardiness zone | Avg. extreme low | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 37303 | 7b | 5 to 10°F | 5 km |
| 37329 | 7b | 5 to 10°F | 12 km |
| 37370 | 7b | 5 to 10°F | 13 km |
| 37331 | 7b | 5 to 10°F | 14 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 USC00400284, at 35.4322, -84.5833, elevation 286 m (940 ft).
- Data quality: Standard (24+ years of data), 27 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 85.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Decatur 7ne (24 km)
- Tellico Plains (27 km)
- Cleveland Fltr Plant (30 km)
- Spring City (37 km)
- Dayton 2se (38 km)
- Rockwood 2 (46 km)
- Kingston (48 km)
- Lenoir City (49 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.