Henry W. Grady House · Photo: Fred D. Nichols, Photographer · Public domainWet weather: 51 inches of rain and melted snow a year in Athens, more than in 85% of U.S. towns
The coldest hours of a January night bottom out at 33° on average. In July, afternoons here are warmer than in 77% of U.S. towns. Since 1901–2000, the year has warmed by 0.8°, most of all in December. Seedlings are safe outdoors from about March 23, with the first autumn frost due around November 10.
A year in Athens at a glance
Each month’s typical high and low, and what it brings.
What stands out about Athens’ climate
Compared with towns across the U.S., with Athens’ place in Georgia beside it.
What a year in Athens feels like
Typical highs and lows by season and by month, from NOAA’s 30-year normals.
About 232 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by March 23 and the first by November 10. Frost and day counts come from Athens Ben Epps Airport, Athens’s official weather station (the one in National Weather Service reports), 2.3 miles from the city’s center point, at about the same height.
The 2023 USDA map puts Athens’ center in zone 8a: the coldest night of a typical winter, averaged over 1991–2020, reaches about 15°. Plant labels use the zone; frost dates tell you when to plant.
Freezing nights by month
Average nights at or below 32°
90° days by month
Average days at 90° or more
About 51 inches of rain a year
August is the wettest month and October the driest. Rain falls on about 117 days a year. Snow is rare: about 0.0" in a normal year at U Of Ga Plt Sci, GA, so most winters see none.
Rain + melted snow by month
Inches of water
Heating and cooling a home in Athens
58% of the work is heating. Months averaging under 55° run from November through March.
Degree days add up how far each day’s average falls below (heating) or rises above (cooling) 65° over a year. NOAA normals at Athens Ben Epps Airport.
Living with Athens’ climate
What the numbers mean for a garden, a free afternoon and a bad-weather day.
232 frost-free days in zone 8a. The last frost comes by Mar 23 in half of years, so many gardeners wait a week or two past that to set out tomatoes. The first fall frost comes by Nov 10.
Months with highs of 62–84° and lows of 40° or more: March, April, May, September, October and November. 101 miles of trails are waiting.
Parks & trails →Normals are averages; the hazards page covers the extremes.
Natural hazards →Athens and similar climates
TownRatings has no climate map of the towns around Athens yet.
Climates most like Athens’, farther away
TownRatings’ own comparison of NOAA 1991–2020 normals, not a NOAA product: places of 5,000+ at least 150 miles away, one per state, closest on January low, July high, precipitation and snow.
| Town | Jan. low | July high | Precip. | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Athens, GA | 33° | 90° | 51" | 0.0" |
| Helena-West Helena, AR | 33° | 91° | 52" | 0.3" |
| Williamston, NC | 32° | 89° | 51" | 0.5" |
| Little River, SC | 36° | 89° | 53" | 0.5" |
| Southside, AL | 33° | 90° | 55" | 0.2" |
Temperatures and precipitation come from NOAA’s 5 km grid; snow and day counts from the stations named on this page.
Warmer than it used to be
The last 30 years in Athens averaged 0.8° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in December (+2.1°).
A smaller shift than in 90% of U.S. towns.
Change by month
The two periods overlap (1991–2000 is in both), which makes the gap a little smaller than it would be between separate periods. In a city of 130,000 people, part of the change is the city itself: pavement and buildings hold heat (the urban heat island).
How Athens compares
Against 12,954 U.S. towns of 2,500 or more (one per 5 km climate cell), with Athens’ place among Georgia’s.
Athens weather by month
Highs, lows and precipitation from NOAA’s grid at Athens’ center; snow, wet days and snow on the ground from U Of Ga Plt Sci, GA. 1991–2020 normals.
| Month | High | Low | Rain + melt | Snow | Wet days | Snow on ground | 30-yr range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 54° | 33° | 4.6" | 0.0" | 11 | 0 | 36° – 50° |
| February | 58° | 36° | 4.5" | 0.0" | 10 | 0 | 39° – 56° |
| March | 66° | 42° | 4.7" | 0.0" | 10 | 0 | 47° – 63° |
| April | 74° | 49° | 3.7" | 0.0" | 9 | 0 | 57° – 66° |
| May | 81° | 58° | 3.6" | 0.0" | 9 | 0 | 64° – 74° |
| June | 87° | 65° | 4.8" | 0.0" | 11 | 0 | 72° – 80° |
| July | 90° | 69° | 4.1" | 0.0" | 11 | 0 | 77° – 84° |
| August | 89° | 68° | 4.9" | 0.0" | 10 | 0 | 75° – 84° |
| September | 83° | 62° | 4.0" | 0.0" | 9 | 0 | 70° – 78° |
| October | 74° | 51° | 3.3" | 0.0" | 8 | 0 | 59° – 67° |
| November | 64° | 41° | 3.8" | 0.0" | 9 | 0 | 47° – 58° |
| December | 56° | 36° | 4.7" | 0.0" | 10 | 0 | 36° – 56° |
| Year | 73° | 51° | 50.5" | 0.0" | 117 | 0 |
How much a month can swing
A normal is an average. December swings the most: from 1991 to 2020 its average ranged from 36° to 56°. July is the most reliable, staying within 7°.
Where Athens’ numbers come from
Normals are 30-year averages, not a forecast. How TownRatings reads climate data →
- Temperatures and precipitation: NOAA’s gridded 1991–2020 normals for the 5 km cell at Athens’ center.
- Snow: U Of Ga Plt Sci, GA.
- Frost, freezing nights, 90° and 100° days, heating and cooling: Athens Ben Epps Airport, 2.3 miles from the city’s center point, at about the same height; the city’s official station.
- Growing zone: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, 2023. USDA Agricultural Research Service and PRISM Group, Oregon State University, prism.oregonstate.edu/phzm, accessed 8 Oct 2026.
- Then and now: NOAA’s gridded normals for 1901–2000 at the same cell.
- Storms and extremes: FEMA National Risk Index (expected annual losses to buildings).
Common questions about Athens’ climate
What is the weather like in Athens?
A typical July afternoon reaches 90°, a January night drops to 33°, and snow is almost unheard of. Milder January nights than 77% of U.S. towns; hotter July afternoons than 77% of U.S. towns.
How cold does it get in Athens in winter?
January nights average 33°. About 46 nights a year reach 32° or below. In the coldest January of the last 30 years the month averaged 36°.
How much snow does Athens get?
About 0.0 inches in a normal winter at U Of Ga Plt Sci, GA, so most winters see none.
How hot does it get in Athens?
July, with a typical high of 90° and a low of 69°. About 62 days a year reach 90° and 2 reach 100° (Athens Ben Epps Airport).
When is the first and last frost in Athens?
In half of years the last spring frost (32°) comes by March 23 and the first fall frost by November 10, about 232 frost-free days, at Athens Ben Epps Airport.
What growing zone is Athens in?
Zone 8a on the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map: the coldest night of a typical winter reaches about 15°.
What is the best time of year to visit Athens?
By one simple rule (highs of 62–84° and lows of 40° or more), March, April, May, September, October and November. The rule is ours, not NOAA’s; the month table has the numbers to judge by.
Is Athens getting warmer?
Yes: 1991–2020 averaged 0.8° warmer than 1901–2000 on NOAA’s grid. A smaller shift than 90% of U.S. towns.
Neighbors talk weather
Gardens, snow, and the best days of the year in Athens.
Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 and 1901–2000; USDA/PRISM 2023 hardiness zones; FEMA National Risk Index. Today’s forecast: National Weather Service.