U.S. Frost Dates by Weather Station

NOAA station USC00011620 · Alabama

Frost Dates for Childersburg, AL

NOAA weather station Childersburg WTP (USC00011620), Alabama · elevation 418 ft (127 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 250% chance of a frost before it
  • Frost-free season216 daystypical year, 32°F
  • Hardiness zone8acalculated*

The year at a glance

Frost season at Childersburg, ALSpring: a frost after March 10 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 20 in 1 year out of 10, before November 2 in half of the years, before November 16 in 9 years out of 10. Typical frost-free season: 216 days.JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecLast frost ~Mar 31First frost ~Nov 2Frost season at Childersburg, ALSpring: a frost after March 10 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 20 in 1 year out of 10, before November 2 in half of the years, before November 16 in 9 years out of 10. Typical frost-free season: 216 days.JFMAMJJASONDLast frost ~Mar 31First frost ~Nov 2
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 27 years of NOAA records (1991–2020 normals)
ChanceLast frost in spring afterFirst frost in fall before
10% (unlikely)April 16October 20
50% (typical)March 31November 2
90% (likely)March 10November 16
Frost-free season (32°F, 50% chance)
216 days
Hard frost (28°F), last in spring, 50% chance after
March 16
Hard frost (28°F), first in fall, 50% chance before
November 12

The last 15 years (2006–2020 normals)

Typical last frost March 29 (2 days earlier than the 30-year normal), typical first fall frost November 2. Frost-free season 220 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 Childersburg: chance of a frost after this dateSpring, chance of a frost after the date: 10% April 16, 20% April 9, 30% April 6, 40% April 3, 50% March 31, 60% March 27, 70% March 23, 80% March 18, 90% March 10. Observed last spring frost in recent years: 2021 April 22, 2022 March 14, 2024 March 20, 2025 March 21.Spring: last frostChance of a frost after this date10%50%90%Mar 1Apr 1Apr 16Mar 31Mar 102021: April 222022: March 142024: March 202025: March 21Fall at Childersburg: chance of a frost before this dateFall, chance of a frost before the date: 10% October 20, 20% October 25, 30% October 28, 40% October 31, 50% November 2, 60% November 4, 70% November 7, 80% November 11, 90% November 16. Observed first fall frost in recent years: 2021 November 6, 2022 October 19, 2024 October 17, 2025 November 3.Fall: first frostChance of a frost before this date10%50%90%Nov 1Oct 20Nov 2Nov 162021: November 62022: October 192024: October 172025: November 3
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 22November 6
2022March 14October 19
2023incomplete recordincomplete record
2024March 20October 17
2025March 21November 3
2026incomplete recordseason not over yet

What these dates mean

Setting out tender crops on March 10 carries a 90% chance of a frost later that season, making it a gamble for growers in Childersburg. Counting on tender crops through November 16 involves a 90% chance of a frost earlier, so that too is risky. The cautious plan uses April 16 for planting and October 20 for finishing harvest, each with only a 10% chance of a frost.

The 50% date is March 31, which marks an even-odds point for a frost later in spring, and the 50% date is November 2, the even-odds point for a frost earlier in fall. A hard frost at 28°F, with median dates of March 16 and November 12, can damage plants more severely than a light frost at 32°F.

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 20" 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 Childersburg, ALNumbered nearest stations: 1 — Sylacauga, AL — 9 mi; 2 — Talladega, AL — 15 mi; 3 — Birmingham, AL — 30 mi; 4 — Alexander City, AL — 33 mi; 5 — near Anniston, AL — 35 mi.GA25 mi · 40 km1. Sylacauga, AL — 9 mi12. Talladega, AL — 15 mi23. Birmingham, AL — 30 mi34. Alexander City, AL — 33 mi45. near Anniston, AL — 35 mi5
  1. Sylacauga, AL 9 mi (15 km)
  2. Talladega, AL 15 mi (24 km)
  3. Birmingham, AL 30 mi (49 km)
  4. Alexander City, AL 33 mi (53 km)
  5. near Anniston, AL 35 mi (56 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: 33.285, -86.3431.