U.S. Frost Dates by Weather Station

NOAA station USC00010764 · Alabama

Frost Dates for Bessemer, AL

NOAA weather station Bessemer 3 WSW (USC00010764), Alabama · elevation 445 ft (136 m) · hardiness zone 8a*

  • Lower-risk planting dateafter April 11only 1 spring in 10 still has a frost later
  • Typical last frostMarch 2350% chance of a frost after it
  • Typical first fall frostNovember 1050% chance of a frost before it
  • Frost-free season231 daystypical year, 32°F
  • Hardiness zone8acalculated*

The year at a glance

Frost season at Bessemer, ALSpring: a frost after March 3 in 9 years out of 10, after March 23 in half of the years, after April 11 in 1 year out of 10. Fall: the first frost comes before October 27 in 1 year out of 10, before November 10 in half of the years, before November 28 in 9 years out of 10. Typical frost-free season: 231 days.JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecLast frost ~Mar 23First frost ~Nov 10Frost season at Bessemer, ALSpring: a frost after March 3 in 9 years out of 10, after March 23 in half of the years, after April 11 in 1 year out of 10. Fall: the first frost comes before October 27 in 1 year out of 10, before November 10 in half of the years, before November 28 in 9 years out of 10. Typical frost-free season: 231 days.JFMAMJJASONDLast frost ~Mar 23First frost ~Nov 10
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 28 years of NOAA records (1991–2020 normals)
ChanceLast frost in spring afterFirst frost in fall before
10% (unlikely)April 11October 27
50% (typical)March 23November 10
90% (likely)March 3November 28
Frost-free season (32°F, 50% chance)
231 days
Hard frost (28°F), last in spring, 50% chance after
March 9
Hard frost (28°F), first in fall, 50% chance before
November 23

The last 15 years (2006–2020 normals)

Typical last frost March 19 (4 days earlier than the 30-year normal), typical first fall frost November 9 (1 day earlier). Frost-free season 234 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 Bessemer: chance of a frost after this dateSpring, chance of a frost after the date: 10% April 11, 20% April 5, 30% March 31, 40% March 27, 50% March 23, 60% March 20, 70% March 15, 80% March 9, 90% March 3. Observed last spring frost in recent years: 2021 April 3, 2022 March 14, 2023 March 21, 2024 March 19, 2025 March 21, 2026 March 18.Spring: last frostChance of a frost after this date10%50%90%Mar 1Apr 1Apr 11Mar 23Mar 32021: April 32022: March 142023: March 212024: March 192025: March 212026: March 18Fall at Bessemer: chance of a frost before this dateFall, chance of a frost before the date: 10% October 27, 20% November 1, 30% November 3, 40% November 6, 50% November 10, 60% November 13, 70% November 17, 80% November 21, 90% November 28. Observed first fall frost in recent years: 2021 November 13, 2022 October 19, 2023 November 2, 2024 November 29, 2025 November 10.Fall: first frostChance of a frost before this date10%50%90%Nov 1Dec 1Oct 27Nov 10Nov 282021: November 132022: October 192023: November 22024: November 292025: 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 3November 13
2022March 14October 19
2023March 21November 2
2024March 19November 29
2025March 21November 10
2026March 18season not over yet

What these dates mean

October 27 is the cautious fall date for finishing the harvest of tender crops in Bessemer, as there is only a 10 % chance a light frost has arrived by then. Gardeners planning the end of the season can rely on that low-risk point to protect sensitive plants.

For spring planting, the cautious date is April 11, the day with a 10 % chance of a light frost later in the season, so tender seedlings are usually set out after that. The 50 % light-frost dates are March 23 and November 10; each marks the day when there is an even chance a light frost occurs later in spring or earlier in fall. The 50 % hard-frost dates are March 9 and November 23, indicating the midpoint for a 28 °F frost in spring and fall.

A hard frost at 28 °F can injure plants that survive a light frost at 32 °F, making it the more critical temperature threshold.

How to read the probabilities

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

  • Spring: "10% after April 11" 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 Bessemer, ALNumbered nearest stations: 1 — Birmingham, AL — 19 mi; 2 — Childersburg, AL — 39 mi; 3 — Clanton, AL — 46 mi; 4 — Sylacauga, AL — 48 mi; 5 — Talladega, AL — 50 mi.ALGA25 mi · 40 km1. Birmingham, AL — 19 mi12. Childersburg, AL — 39 mi23. Clanton, AL — 46 mi34. Sylacauga, AL — 48 mi45. Talladega, AL — 50 mi5
  1. Birmingham, AL 19 mi (31 km)
  2. Childersburg, AL 39 mi (63 km)
  3. Clanton, AL 46 mi (75 km)
  4. Sylacauga, AL 48 mi (77 km)
  5. Talladega, AL 50 mi (81 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: 33.3953, -87.0078.