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Will it freeze in Athens in the next 7 nights?
No overnight lows at or below 32°F are forecast in Athens during the next 7 nights in the available NWS frost forecast.
Tonight: forecast low 46°F. Above 36°F.
NWS forecast period: Thu, Nov 5, 6:00 PM EST to Fri, Nov 6, 6:00 AM EST.
3 of the next 7 nights are forecast at 36°F or colder, cold enough for frost on exposed plants.
- Tonight 46°F Above 36°F · Mostly Clear
- Fri, Nov 6 42°F Above 36°F · Partly Cloudy
- Sat, Nov 7 34°F Frost possible · Partly Cloudy
- Sun, Nov 8 34°F Frost possible · Mostly Clear
- Mon, Nov 9 36°F Frost possible · Mostly Clear
- Tue, Nov 10 37°F Above 36°F · Mostly Clear
- Wed, Nov 11 39°F Above 36°F · Mostly Clear
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 10, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at Athens. 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 4 · Apr 20 · May 5 | Oct 10 · Oct 23 · Nov 3 | 186 days |
| 32°F freeze | Mar 20 · Apr 6 · Apr 24 | Oct 20 · Oct 31 · Nov 13 | 208 days |
| 28°F hard freeze | Mar 6 · Mar 27 · Apr 10 | Oct 30 · Nov 10 · Nov 29 | 230 days |
Average high temperature by month
1991–2020 normals at Athens
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, TN come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: Athens (station USC00400284, elevation 940 ft), 2.1 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sweetwater, TN | 12 mi | Apr 10 | Oct 27 |
| Madisonville, TN | 14 mi | Apr 13 | Oct 24 |
| Dayton, TN | 23 mi | Apr 4 | Oct 31 |
| Loudon, TN | 24 mi | Apr 5 | Nov 1 |
| Cleveland, TN | 24 mi | Apr 6 | Oct 30 |
| Rockwood, TN | 29 mi | Apr 8 | Oct 31 |
| Kingston, TN | 29 mi | Apr 3 | Nov 4 |
| Lenoir City, TN | 30 mi | Apr 5 | Nov 1 |
| Harriman, TN | 33 mi | Apr 3 | Nov 4 |
| Soddy-Daisy, TN | 35 mi | Apr 7 | Oct 29 |
Frequently asked questions
When is the last frost in Athens?
On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in Athens is around April 6. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after April 24, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after March 20.
When is the first frost in Athens?
The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around October 31. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by October 20 and a 90% chance by November 13.
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 April 20.
What growing zone is Athens?
Athens is in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 7b (average annual extreme minimum temperature 5 to 10°F), based on the 2023 USDA map for ZIP code 37303. See growing zones in Tennessee.
More: all Tennessee frost dates · Tennessee growing zones · frost vs. freeze