Atlanta, Georgia Frost Dates, Growing Season & Hardiness Zone

When is the last frost in Atlanta?

Expect the last 32°F night by Mar 24 in a typical year; 1 year in 10 still freezes after Apr 10. Cold 36°F nights (frost possible on plants) typically last longer, until around Apr 7. Hard freezes (28°F) typically end sooner, around Mar 9.

Frost risk in Atlanta drags on well past the typical date. The safer 1-in-10 date (Apr 10) is 17 days later than the typical Mar 24, so protect tender plants set out early on cold nights.

Cool nights hang on after the last freeze: the typical last 36°F night (frost possible on plants in low spots) is around Apr 7, 14 days later than the typical last 32°F night. Frost can form on leaves on clear, calm nights even with the thermometer above freezing.

Is it too early to plant in Atlanta?

Before Mar 24 the odds of another 32°F night are better than even; after Apr 10 they are about 1 in 10 or less.

Today's risk is computed in your browser from the same NOAA probability table, shown as the range between the two nearest NOAA probability levels.

When is the first frost in Atlanta?

Half of years get their first 32°F night by Nov 8. In 1 year out of 10, it arrives as early as Oct 27. The first 36°F night (frost possible on plants) typically comes around Oct 29, and the first 28°F hard freeze around Nov 20.

To time a fall crop, count back from the typical first frost (Nov 8) or the safer Oct 27. The planting calendar works it out crop by crop.

How long is Atlanta's growing season?

A typical year in Atlanta has 231 days between the last spring and first fall 32°F nights. In about 1 year in 10, there are fewer than 207 days.

A season this long fits most warm-season vegetables planted on time. Long-season crops do best when started from transplants.

Each year the station logs an average of 5,219 growing degree days (base 50°F), a measure of the heat available for crop growth.

How does Atlanta's season compare?

Nationwide, across the 56 cities with frost dates on this site, the typical frost-free season here outlasts the one in 35 of them and falls short of the one in 20.

Growing degree days (base 50°F)

Annual normal: 5,219 GDD (NOAA flag R, 20 years). Running total by the end of each month (sum of NOAA daily GDD normals, so the year-end total can differ slightly from the annual normal):

What growing zone is Atlanta? (USDA 2023)

Atlanta is in USDA zone 8a on the 2023 map, which means an average coldest winter night of 10 to 15°F. Most of the city was 8a on the 2012 map, and 8 of 27 city ZIPs found in both tables moved up half a zone.

Zones: PRISM Group, Oregon State University, https://prism.oregonstate.edu, accessed 2026-10-08. Shown as published in the ZIP tables; this page does not show a zone map. Not the official USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (official map: planthardiness.ars.usda.gov).

Does the new zone change Atlanta's frost dates?

No. A hardiness zone reflects only the average coldest winter temperature, not the timing of spring or fall frost. Atlanta's frost dates come from NOAA's 1991–2020 frost probabilities, and the 2023 zone map didn't change them. Pick perennials that survive winter by zone; time your planting by frost dates.

Why do Atlanta frost dates differ between websites?

You may see Mar 31 given as Atlanta's last frost date. That's the 30%-risk date, meaning about 3 years in 10 still have a 32°F night after it. Our headline date is Mar 24, the 50% (median) date.

Apr 10 is the 10%-risk, or 'safer', date. Only about 1 year in 10 has a 32°F night after it.

Apr 7 is the typical (50%) date for a 36°F night (frost possible on plants), not a 32°F freeze. Any site that draws the line at 36°F will show later dates.

Sites also pick different weather stations. Within 25 miles of the city center, the 5 stations that meet our quality rules put the typical (50%) last 32°F frost anywhere from Mar 15 to Mar 27 (table below).

Which weather station is this based on?

Station

Atlanta Fulton Co. Airport (NOAA USW00003888, WBAN/ASOS-AWOS)

Distance

5.8 mi WNW of the city center

Elevation

840 ft; city center 956 ft (USGS), difference −116 ft

Record

NOAA completeness flag R, 22 of 30 years (1991–2020)

Confidence

High (rule)

Confidence: High. The station is 5.8 miles from the city center, only 116 ft different in elevation, and its frost statistics meet our completeness rule (NOAA flag R, 22 of 30 years).

Note: NOAA rates this station's frost statistics 'R' (representative). That means they use 22 of the 30 years in 1991–2020, with missing months filled in from surrounding stations. For comparison, the nearest station with a full 'S' (standard) record, Atlanta Hartsfield International Airport (9.2 mi away), has a typical last frost of Mar 15.

Atlanta planting dates at a glance

Balanced dates use the 30%-risk last-frost date as the anchor. The Atlanta planting calendar has typical and safe dates, fall planting and a month-by-month list for 26 vegetables.

When to plant tomatoes in Atlanta · Fall planting dates for Atlanta

Frost dates near Atlanta

All Georgia cities

Frequently asked questions

What is the average last frost date in Atlanta?

Mar 24 is the median (50%) date for Atlanta's last 32°F night, from NOAA 1991–2020 normals at Atlanta Fulton Co. Airport. To play it safe, use Apr 10: only about 1 year in 10 has a freeze after it.

When is the first frost in Atlanta?

Expect the first 32°F night by Nov 8 in a typical year, and as early as Oct 27 in about 1 year out of 10. Cold 36°F nights (frost possible on plants) typically start around Oct 29.

What growing zone is Atlanta, Georgia?

Atlanta is in USDA hardiness zone 8a on the 2023 map. Most of the city was already 8a on the 2012 map, though 8 of 27 city ZIPs changed zone.

Is it too early to plant in Atlanta?

If it's before Mar 24, it's too early for frost-tender plants: another 32°F night is more likely than not. From Mar 24 to Apr 10, the risk falls from 50% to 10%. Cool-season crops such as peas and lettuce can be planted weeks earlier (see the planting calendar).

What temperature is a killing frost?

For tender crops like tomatoes, a light frost is a killing frost. CSU Extension calls 28–32°F a light frost and below 28°F a heavy frost. Our NOAA odds cover three thresholds: 36°F (frost possible on plants), 32°F (freeze, our headline) and 28°F (hard freeze).

Is first frost the same as first freeze?

Not quite. A 'freeze' means the air reached 32°F. 'Frost' is ice on surfaces, and it can form on calm, clear nights even when the air is a few degrees above freezing. So in Atlanta, the first 36°F night (frost possible on plants) typically comes around Oct 29, before the first 32°F night (Nov 8).

Download & sources

• Add Atlanta frost & planting dates to your calendar (.ics, 2027)
• Printable planting calendar (PDF)
• How these numbers are calculated

Data: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (annual/seasonal and daily normals, station USW00003888); USDA Plant Hardiness Zone ZIP tables 2023 and 2012 by the PRISM Group, Oregon State University; Census 2020 ZIP/place relationship file; USGS elevation. Long-term odds, not a forecast. Figures and sentences are generated from these data by fixed rules; see the methodology. Last updated 2026-10-08.