Checking current alerts… View NWS forecast and alerts.
Will it freeze in Athens in the next 7 nights?
The earliest overnight low at or below 32°F in the available NWS frost forecast is Sun, Nov 8: 32°F (Sun, Nov 8, 6:00 PM EST to Mon, Nov 9, 6:00 AM EST).
Tonight: forecast low 45°F. Above 36°F.
NWS forecast period: Thu, Nov 5, 6:00 PM EST to Fri, Nov 6, 6:00 AM EST.
6 of the next 7 nights are forecast at 36°F or colder, cold enough for frost on exposed plants.
- Tonight 45°F Above 36°F · Partly Cloudy
- Fri, Nov 6 35°F Frost possible · Partly Cloudy
- Sat, Nov 7 33°F Frost possible · Mostly Cloudy
- Sun, Nov 8 32°F Freeze · Mostly Clear
- Mon, Nov 9 36°F Frost possible · Mostly Clear
- Tue, Nov 10 35°F Frost possible · Mostly Clear
- Wed, Nov 11 36°F Frost possible · Partly Cloudy
Overnight lows from the National Weather Service forecast for this location. This covers the available forecast window, not the first freeze of the whole season. Frost can form above 32°F on clear, calm nights.
Frost and freeze probabilities
Freeze dates shift from year to year. Spring percentages describe the chance of a freeze after the stated date; fall percentages describe the chance of a freeze by that date. The 10% spring date is the cautious one: a later freeze happens about 1 year in 10.
These dates describe historical probabilities, not this year’s forecast or the earliest and latest possible freezes. Different weather stations or probability thresholds can produce different published dates for the same city.
Average first hard freeze in Athens
The median first fall hard-freeze date (28°F) is November 1, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at Athens Ou. This is the 50% probability date, not a forecast for this year.
| Temperature | Last spring date 90% · 50% · 10% chance of a later freeze | First fall date 10% · 50% · 90% chance of an earlier freeze | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F frost possible | Apr 20 · May 5 · May 21 | Sep 26 · Oct 11 · Oct 24 | 158 days |
| 32°F freeze | Apr 11 · Apr 25 · May 12 | Oct 8 · Oct 23 · Nov 3 | 179 days |
| 28°F hard freeze | Mar 28 · Apr 11 · Apr 30 | Oct 18 · Nov 1 · Nov 13 | 202 days |
Average high temperature by month
1991–2020 normals at Athens Ou
Average low temperature by month
Months with lows near or below freezing carry frost risk
Where these frost dates come from
The frost dates for Athens, OH come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: Athens Ou (station USC00330279, elevation 684 ft), 0.2 mi from Athens. Local conditions (valleys, hilltops, distance to water, city heat) can shift frost dates by days or weeks. The hardiness zone is from the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (USDA ARS and Oregon State University PRISM). See our methodology.
Frost dates near Athens
| City | Distance | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Logan, OH | 22 mi | Apr 30 | Oct 14 |
| Belpre, OH | 27 mi | Apr 14 | Oct 30 |
| Wellston, OH | 27 mi | Apr 22 | Oct 21 |
| Parkersburg, WV | 30 mi | Apr 14 | Oct 30 |
| Vienna, WV | 30 mi | Apr 14 | Oct 30 |
| Jackson, OH | 35 mi | Apr 22 | Oct 21 |
| Marietta, OH | 35 mi | Apr 18 | Oct 27 |
| Lancaster, OH | 39 mi | Apr 22 | Oct 24 |
| Zanesville, OH | 44 mi | Apr 26 | Oct 19 |
| Chillicothe, OH | 48 mi | Apr 20 | Oct 22 |
Frequently asked questions
When is the last frost in Athens?
On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in Athens is around April 25. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after May 12, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after April 11.
When is the first frost in Athens?
The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around October 23. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by October 8 and a 90% chance by November 3.
Can it frost in Athens after the last frost date?
Yes. Frost can form on clear, calm nights even when the air stays above 32°F. Temperatures of 36°F or lower, cold enough for frost on exposed plants, have a 50% chance of occurring after May 5.
What growing zone is Athens?
Athens is in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 6b (average annual extreme minimum temperature −5 to 0°F), based on the 2023 USDA map for ZIP code 45701. See growing zones in Ohio.
More: all Ohio frost dates · Ohio growing zones · UV index today in Athens · frost vs. freeze