U.S. Frost Dates by Weather Station

NOAA station USC00098703 · Georgia

Frost Dates for Tifton, GA

NOAA weather station Tifton (USC00098703), Georgia · elevation 380 ft (116 m) · hardiness zone 9a*

  • Lower-risk planting dateafter March 29only 1 spring in 10 still has a frost later
  • Typical last frostMarch 1150% chance of a frost after it
  • Typical first fall frostNovember 1950% chance of a frost before it
  • Frost-free season254 daystypical year, 32°F
  • Hardiness zone9acalculated*

The year at a glance

Frost season at Tifton, GASpring: a frost after February 18 in 9 years out of 10, after March 11 in half of the years, after March 29 in 1 year out of 10. Fall: the first frost comes before November 1 in 1 year out of 10, before November 19 in half of the years, before December 14 in 9 years out of 10. Typical frost-free season: 254 days.JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecLast frost ~Mar 11First frost ~Nov 19Frost season at Tifton, GASpring: a frost after February 18 in 9 years out of 10, after March 11 in half of the years, after March 29 in 1 year out of 10. Fall: the first frost comes before November 1 in 1 year out of 10, before November 19 in half of the years, before December 14 in 9 years out of 10. Typical frost-free season: 254 days.JFMAMJJASONDLast frost ~Mar 11First frost ~Nov 19
frost likely chance fading 90% → 10% frost-free in a typical yearThe year at a glance. Blue: frost is likely; the gradient fades as the chance drops from 90% to 10%; green: the frost-free part of a typical year.

Frost dates (32°F)

Probability of frost, based on 25 years of NOAA records (1991–2020 normals)
ChanceLast frost in spring afterFirst frost in fall before
10% (unlikely)March 29November 1
50% (typical)March 11November 19
90% (likely)February 18December 14
Frost-free season (32°F, 50% chance)
254 days
Hard frost (28°F), last in spring, 50% chance after
February 26
Hard frost (28°F), first in fall, 50% chance before
December 8

The last 15 years (2006–2020 normals)

Typical last frost March 14 (3 days later than the 30-year normal), typical first fall frost November 16 (3 days earlier). Frost-free season 250 days.

A shorter, more recent NOAA period. The 30-year normals above remain the main reference: 15 years carry more year-to-year noise.

Add these dates to your calendar Yearly reminders for the typical last frost, the lower-risk planting date and the typical first fall frost (.ics).

How the chance of frost changes with the date

Spring at Tifton: chance of a frost after this dateSpring, chance of a frost after the date: 10% March 29, 20% March 22, 30% March 18, 40% March 14, 50% March 11, 60% March 7, 70% March 3, 80% February 26, 90% February 18. Observed last spring frost in recent years: 2021 April 5, 2022 March 15, 2023 March 22, 2024 February 22, 2025 February 24, 2026 March 18.Spring: last frostChance of a frost after this date10%50%90%Mar 1Apr 1Mar 29Mar 11Feb 182021: April 52022: March 152023: March 222024: February 222025: February 242026: March 18Fall at Tifton: chance of a frost before this dateFall, chance of a frost before the date: 10% November 1, 20% November 7, 30% November 11, 40% November 15, 50% November 19, 60% November 25, 70% December 1, 80% December 5, 90% December 14. Observed first fall frost in recent years: 2021 November 24, 2022 October 21, 2024 November 30, 2025 November 11.Fall: first frostChance of a frost before this date10%50%90%Nov 1Dec 1Nov 1Nov 19Dec 142021: November 242022: October 212024: November 302025: November 11
Two charts, because spring and fall answer different questions: in spring, the chance that a frost still comes after a date; in fall, the chance that the first frost has already come before it. NOAA publishes these odds from 10% to 90%, so the lines stop there. ◆ marks the actual date in each recent year.

What actually happened in recent years

Observed dates of the last spring and first fall frost (32°F) at this station; ◆ marks them on the charts above
YearLast spring frostFirst fall frost
2021April 5November 24
2022March 15October 21
2023March 22incomplete record
2024February 22November 30
2025February 24November 11
2026March 18season not over yet

What these dates mean

March 29 is the cautious spring light-frost date for Tifton; with only a 10 % chance of a frost later, it lets a gardener set out tender crops in confidence. March 11 is the 50% date, marking an even chance of a frost later. February 26 marks the 50% point for hard frost, indicating an equal chance of temperatures reaching 28 °F.

For the autumn season, November 1 serves as the cautious light-frost date, giving a 10 % chance that a frost already arrived and allowing a gardener to finish harvesting tender crops. November 19 is the 50% date, signaling an even chance of a frost earlier, while December 8 marks the 50% point for hard frost, indicating an equal chance of 28 °F temperatures. Hard frost at 28 °F is more damaging than a light frost at 32 °F because it can kill plant tissue.

How to read the probabilities

The dates are probabilities from 30 years of weather, not a forecast for this year.

  • Spring: "10% after March 29" means that in about one spring out of ten a frost still happens after that date. The 90% date is the earliest: a frost after it happens in most years.
  • Fall: "10% before November 1" means that in about one fall out of ten the first frost arrives before that date.
  • 50% is the typical date: half of the years are earlier, half are later.
  • A light frost (32°F) damages tender plants; a hard frost (28°F) also stops most hardy vegetables.

Nearby weather stations

Map of weather stations near Tifton, GANumbered nearest stations: 1 — Albany, GA — 40 mi; 2 — Cordele, GA — 41 mi; 3 — Camilla, GA — 46 mi; 4 — Jasper, FL — 71 mi; 5 — Cuthbert, GA — 81 mi.GAAL25 mi · 40 km1. Albany, GA — 40 mi12. Cordele, GA — 41 mi23. Camilla, GA — 46 mi34. Jasper, FL — 71 mi45. Cuthbert, GA — 81 mi5
  1. Albany, GA 40 mi (64 km)
  2. Cordele, GA 41 mi (66 km)
  3. Camilla, GA 46 mi (75 km)
  4. Jasper, FL 71 mi (115 km)
  5. Cuthbert, GA 81 mi (130 km)

Sources

* Hardiness zone 9a: zone derived from PRISM 2023 grid at the station location (not the official USDA map). Source data: PRISM Group, Oregon State University.

Station coordinates: 31.4461, -83.4767.