U.S. Frost Dates by Weather Station

NOAA station USC00010655 · Alabama

Frost Dates for Belle Mina, AL

NOAA weather station Belle Mina 2 N (USC00010655), Alabama · elevation 603 ft (184 m) · hardiness zone 8a*

  • Lower-risk planting dateafter April 16only 1 spring in 10 still has a frost later
  • Typical last frostMarch 3150% chance of a frost after it
  • Typical first fall frostNovember 150% chance of a frost before it
  • Frost-free season214 daystypical year, 32°F
  • Hardiness zone8acalculated*

The year at a glance

Frost season at Belle Mina, ALSpring: a frost after March 14 in 9 years out of 10, after March 31 in half of the years, after April 16 in 1 year out of 10. Fall: the first frost comes before October 19 in 1 year out of 10, before November 1 in half of the years, before November 15 in 9 years out of 10. Typical frost-free season: 214 days.JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecLast frost ~Mar 31First frost ~Nov 1Frost season at Belle Mina, ALSpring: a frost after March 14 in 9 years out of 10, after March 31 in half of the years, after April 16 in 1 year out of 10. Fall: the first frost comes before October 19 in 1 year out of 10, before November 1 in half of the years, before November 15 in 9 years out of 10. Typical frost-free season: 214 days.JFMAMJJASONDLast frost ~Mar 31First frost ~Nov 1
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 26 years of NOAA records (1991–2020 normals)
ChanceLast frost in spring afterFirst frost in fall before
10% (unlikely)April 16October 19
50% (typical)March 31November 1
90% (likely)March 14November 15
Frost-free season (32°F, 50% chance)
214 days
Hard frost (28°F), last in spring, 50% chance after
March 18
Hard frost (28°F), first in fall, 50% chance before
November 10

The last 15 years (2006–2020 normals)

Typical last frost March 31 (same as the 30-year normal), typical first fall frost November 1. Frost-free season 216 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 Belle Mina: chance of a frost after this dateSpring, chance of a frost after the date: 10% April 16, 20% April 10, 30% April 6, 40% April 3, 50% March 31, 60% March 28, 70% March 24, 80% March 19, 90% March 14. Observed last spring frost in recent years: 2021 April 23, 2022 March 15, 2023 March 21, 2024 March 20, 2025 March 22, 2026 March 18.Spring: last frostChance of a frost after this date10%50%90%Mar 1Apr 1Apr 16Mar 31Mar 142021: April 232022: March 152023: March 212024: March 202025: March 222026: March 18Fall at Belle Mina: chance of a frost before this dateFall, chance of a frost before the date: 10% October 19, 20% October 24, 30% October 27, 40% October 30, 50% November 1, 60% November 3, 70% November 6, 80% November 10, 90% November 15. Observed first fall frost in recent years: 2021 November 8, 2022 October 19, 2023 November 1, 2024 November 23, 2025 November 5.Fall: first frostChance of a frost before this date10%50%90%Nov 1Oct 19Nov 1Nov 152021: November 82022: October 192023: November 12024: November 232025: November 5
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 23November 8
2022March 15October 19
2023March 21November 1
2024March 20November 23
2025March 22November 5
2026March 18season not over yet

What these dates mean

Setting out tender crops on the early spring date, March 14, carries a 90% chance that a light frost will still occur later, so planting then is a gamble for Belle Mina gardeners. The hard-frost median for spring is March 18, a reminder that temperatures below 28°F are possible even after the light-frost window.

A cautious plan uses the April 16 date, which has only a 10% chance of a light frost later, for sowing tender varieties, and the October 19 date, also a 10% chance of a light frost earlier, for finishing harvests. The 50% date is March 31, representing an even chance of a light frost, and the 50% date is November 1, representing an even chance of a light frost. The hard-frost median dates are March 18 and November 10, marking when 28°F temperatures are equally likely. A hard frost at 28°F can damage plant tissue that survives a 32°F light frost, making it a greater risk.

How to read the probabilities

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

  • Spring: "10% after April 16" 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 19" 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 Belle Mina, ALNumbered nearest stations: 1 — Huntsville, AL — 6 mi; 2 — Athens, AL — 7 mi; 3 — Pulaski, TN — 35 mi; 4 — Fayetteville, TN — 36 mi; 5 — Muscle Shoals, AL — 41 mi.AL25 mi · 40 km1. Huntsville, AL — 6 mi12. Athens, AL — 7 mi23. Pulaski, TN — 35 mi34. Fayetteville, TN — 36 mi45. Muscle Shoals, AL — 41 mi5
  1. Huntsville, AL 6 mi (10 km)
  2. Athens, AL 7 mi (11 km)
  3. Pulaski, TN 35 mi (57 km)
  4. Fayetteville, TN 36 mi (58 km)
  5. Muscle Shoals, AL 41 mi (66 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: 34.6892, -86.8819.