U.S. Frost Dates by Weather Station

NOAA station USC00010160 · Alabama

Frost Dates for Alexander City, AL

NOAA weather station Alexander City (USC00010160), Alabama · elevation 640 ft (195 m) · hardiness zone 8a*

  • Lower-risk planting dateafter April 12only 1 spring in 10 still has a frost later
  • Typical last frostMarch 2650% chance of a frost after it
  • Typical first fall frostNovember 850% chance of a frost before it
  • Frost-free season227 daystypical year, 32°F
  • Hardiness zone8acalculated*

The year at a glance

Frost season at Alexander City, ALSpring: a frost after March 5 in 9 years out of 10, after March 26 in half of the years, after April 12 in 1 year out of 10. Fall: the first frost comes before October 27 in 1 year out of 10, before November 8 in half of the years, before November 26 in 9 years out of 10. Typical frost-free season: 227 days.JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecLast frost ~Mar 26First frost ~Nov 8Frost season at Alexander City, ALSpring: a frost after March 5 in 9 years out of 10, after March 26 in half of the years, after April 12 in 1 year out of 10. Fall: the first frost comes before October 27 in 1 year out of 10, before November 8 in half of the years, before November 26 in 9 years out of 10. Typical frost-free season: 227 days.JFMAMJJASONDLast frost ~Mar 26First frost ~Nov 8
frost likely chance fading 90% → 10% frost-free in a typical yearThe year at a glance. Blue: frost is likely; the gradient fades as the chance drops from 90% to 10%; green: the frost-free part of a typical year.

Frost dates (32°F)

Probability of frost, based on 30 years of NOAA records (1991–2020 normals)
ChanceLast frost in spring afterFirst frost in fall before
10% (unlikely)April 12October 27
50% (typical)March 26November 8
90% (likely)March 5November 26
Frost-free season (32°F, 50% chance)
227 days
Hard frost (28°F), last in spring, 50% chance after
March 12
Hard frost (28°F), first in fall, 50% chance before
November 20

The last 15 years (2006–2020 normals)

Typical last frost March 21 (5 days earlier than the 30-year normal), typical first fall frost November 8. Frost-free season 229 days.

A shorter, more recent NOAA period. The 30-year normals above remain the main reference: 15 years carry more year-to-year noise.

Add these dates to your calendar Yearly reminders for the typical last frost, the lower-risk planting date and the typical first fall frost (.ics).

How the chance of frost changes with the date

Spring at Alexander City: chance of a frost after this dateSpring, chance of a frost after the date: 10% April 12, 20% April 6, 30% April 1, 40% March 30, 50% March 26, 60% March 23, 70% March 18, 80% March 13, 90% March 5. Observed last spring frost in recent years: 2021 April 3, 2022 March 15, 2024 March 20, 2025 March 22, 2026 March 20.Spring: last frostChance of a frost after this date10%50%90%Mar 1Apr 1Apr 12Mar 26Mar 52021: April 32022: March 152024: March 202025: March 222026: March 20Fall at Alexander City: chance of a frost before this dateFall, chance of a frost before the date: 10% October 27, 20% November 1, 30% November 2, 40% November 5, 50% November 8, 60% November 11, 70% November 14, 80% November 18, 90% November 26. Observed first fall frost in recent years: 2022 October 19, 2023 November 2, 2024 November 23, 2025 November 10.Fall: first frostChance of a frost before this date10%50%90%Nov 1Dec 1Oct 27Nov 8Nov 262022: October 192023: November 22024: November 232025: November 10
Two charts, because spring and fall answer different questions: in spring, the chance that a frost still comes after a date; in fall, the chance that the first frost has already come before it. NOAA publishes these odds from 10% to 90%, so the lines stop there. ◆ marks the actual date in each recent year.

What actually happened in recent years

Observed dates of the last spring and first fall frost (32°F) at this station; ◆ marks them on the charts above
YearLast spring frostFirst fall frost
2021April 3incomplete record
2022March 15October 19
2023incomplete recordNovember 2
2024March 20November 23
2025March 22November 10
2026March 20season not over yet

What these dates mean

October 27 is the cautious fall date in Alexander City for finishing the harvest; only a 10 % chance of a light frost has occurred earlier, while November 26 carries a 90 % chance of a frost and is a gamble. The 50 % date is November 8, meaning an even chance of a frost earlier than this date.

Spring’s cautious date for setting out tender crops is April 12, when the chance of a light frost later is 10 %; planting on March 5 bears a 90 % chance and is risky. The 50 % date is March 26, meaning a 50 % chance of a frost later than this date. Hard-frost (28 °F) 50 % dates are March 12 and November 20; a hard frost can damage plants that survive a 32 °F light frost, making it a greater threat.

How to read the probabilities

The dates are probabilities from 30 years of weather, not a forecast for this year.

  • Spring: "10% after April 12" means that in about one spring out of ten a frost still happens after that date. The 90% date is the earliest: a frost after it happens in most years.
  • Fall: "10% before October 27" means that in about one fall out of ten the first frost arrives before that date.
  • 50% is the typical date: half of the years are earlier, half are later.
  • A light frost (32°F) damages tender plants; a hard frost (28°F) also stops most hardy vegetables.

Nearby weather stations

Map of weather stations near Alexander City, ALNumbered nearest stations: 1 — Sylacauga, AL — 24 mi; 2 — Childersburg, AL — 33 mi; 3 — Talladega, AL — 34 mi; 4 — Clanton, AL — 39 mi; 5 — near Anniston, AL — 45 mi.ALGA25 mi · 40 km1. Sylacauga, AL — 24 mi12. Childersburg, AL — 33 mi23. Talladega, AL — 34 mi34. Clanton, AL — 39 mi45. near Anniston, AL — 45 mi5
  1. Sylacauga, AL 24 mi (38 km)
  2. Childersburg, AL 33 mi (53 km)
  3. Talladega, AL 34 mi (55 km)
  4. Clanton, AL 39 mi (63 km)
  5. near Anniston, AL 45 mi (72 km)

Sources

* Hardiness zone 8a: zone derived from PRISM 2023 grid at the station location (not the official USDA map). Source data: PRISM Group, Oregon State University.

Station coordinates: 32.9453, -85.9481.