Your nature year
Athens, Georgiathrough the year
Also for Gainesville, GA: the same nearby places.
When do frost, green-up and fall color come to Athens?
The USA-NPN spring index puts first leaf here around Feb 10 and first bloom around Mar 16. Expect about 232 frost-free days in Athens: the last spring frost usually comes around Mar 23, the first fall one around Nov 10, going by NOAA's Athens Ben Epps Airport station 2.5 miles away. We follow 9 places within 150 miles of Athens; the nearest lies 81 miles to the north. The closest place we follow is Nantahala National Forest, 81 miles away, for fall foliage, usually well under way by mid-October (statewide). For wildflowers, the nearest is Nantahala National Forest (81 mi, Mar 15–May 15 (local timing)). At some 646 feet up, Athens is on low ground.
Updated Sep 27. Sources: US Census Bureau, 2024 Gazetteer (places) ↗ (opens in a new tab), US Census Bureau, city and town population estimates, 2024 ↗ (opens in a new tab), NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (annual/seasonal) ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Best this weekend nearby
- Great Smoky Mountains, Tennessee · 119 mi · Fall foliage
Usually Oct 1–Nov 10
Sat Oct 3: Chance Rain Showers, 75°F · Sun Oct 4: Showers And Thunderstorms Likely, 70°F
No report yet - Blue Ridge Parkway, North Carolina · 134 mi · Fall foliage
Usually Oct 1–31
Sat Oct 3: Chance Rain Showers, 64°F · Sun Oct 4: Rain Showers Likely, 59°F
No report yet
Places in their own usual window that weekend; reports are the latest official ones, forecasts from the National Weather Service.
Athens's year at a glance
- Frost possible
- Frost-free, ~Mar 23 to ~Nov 10
- First leaf ~Feb 10
- First bloom ~Mar 16
- Today
Near Athens right now
- First fall frost usually around Nov 10 · last spring frost around Mar 23NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Athens Ben Epps Airport (2.5 mi, 50% dates)~6 weeks
- Fall foliage · Nantahala National Forest · 81 miStatewide: usually well under way by mid-October~2 weeks
Athens's nature year
- Spring green-upFeb
- Wildflowers · Nantahala National ForestMar–May
- Last spring frostMar
- Synchronous fireflies · Great Smoky MountainsMay–Jun
- Fall foliage · Nantahala National ForestOct
- First fall frostNov
Nearby, season by season
Fall foliage
- Nantahala National Forest · 81 miStatewide: usually well under way by mid-October~2 weeks
- Pisgah National Forest · 98 miStatewide: usually well under way by mid-October~2 weeks
- Cherokee National Forest · 109 miusually Oct 11–Nov 10~13 days
Synchronous fireflies
- Great Smoky Mountains · 119 miusually May 21–Jun 10~8 months
- Congaree National Park · 147 miusually May 11–Jun 20~7 months
Wildflowers
- Nantahala National Forest · 81 miLocal timing: Mar 15–May 15~6 months
- Pisgah National Forest · 98 miLocal timing: Mar 21–May 15~6 months
- Cherokee National Forest · 109 miLocal timing: Mar 21–May 31~6 months
Frost and green-up
Last spring frost
Mar 23
Average (50% date)
First fall frost
Nov 10
About 232 days without frost between
Spring green-up
Feb 10
First bloom around Mar 16
Frost: NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at Athens Ben Epps Airport (2.5 mi from Athens), the day a 32 °F night is as likely as not. Green-up: the USA-NPN Spring Index, 1991–2020 average at the town.
Questions people ask
When is the first frost in Athens?
On average around Nov 10, and the last spring frost around Mar 23: about 232 days without frost between. These are NOAA's 1991–2020 normals at Athens Ben Epps Airport, 2.5 miles away (the day a 32 °F night is as likely as not).
When does spring green-up reach Athens?
The USA-NPN Spring Index puts first leaf around Feb 10 and first bloom around Mar 16, on average for 1991–2020 at the town.
Where can I see fall foliage near Athens?
Nantahala National Forest, 81 miles (statewide: usually well under way by mid-October); Pisgah National Forest, 98 miles (statewide: usually well under way by mid-October); Cherokee National Forest, 109 miles (usually Oct 11–Nov 10). Distances are straight-line.
Where can I see synchronous fireflies near Athens?
Great Smoky Mountains, 119 miles (usually May 21–Jun 10); Congaree National Park, 147 miles (usually May 11–Jun 20). Distances are straight-line.
How we know
US Census Bureau, 2024 Gazetteer (places) (opens in a new tab) (Sep 27) · US Census Bureau, city and town population estimates, 2024 (opens in a new tab) (Sep 27) · NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (annual/seasonal) (opens in a new tab) (Sep 27) · USA National Phenology Network, Spring Index 1991–2020 averages (opens in a new tab) (Sep 27)