U.S. Frost Dates by Weather Station

NOAA station USC00011694 · Alabama

Frost Dates for Clanton, AL

NOAA weather station Clanton (USC00011694), Alabama · elevation 590 ft (180 m) · hardiness zone 8a*

  • Lower-risk planting dateafter April 11only 1 spring in 10 still has a frost later
  • Typical last frostMarch 2450% chance of a frost after it
  • Typical first fall frostNovember 1050% chance of a frost before it
  • Frost-free season233 daystypical year, 32°F
  • Hardiness zone8acalculated*

The year at a glance

Frost season at Clanton, ALSpring: a frost after March 1 in 9 years out of 10, after March 24 in half of the years, after April 11 in 1 year out of 10. Fall: the first frost comes before October 28 in 1 year out of 10, before November 10 in half of the years, before November 27 in 9 years out of 10. Typical frost-free season: 233 days.JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecLast frost ~Mar 24First frost ~Nov 10Frost season at Clanton, ALSpring: a frost after March 1 in 9 years out of 10, after March 24 in half of the years, after April 11 in 1 year out of 10. Fall: the first frost comes before October 28 in 1 year out of 10, before November 10 in half of the years, before November 27 in 9 years out of 10. Typical frost-free season: 233 days.JFMAMJJASONDLast frost ~Mar 24First 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 26 years of NOAA records (1991–2020 normals)
ChanceLast frost in spring afterFirst frost in fall before
10% (unlikely)April 11October 28
50% (typical)March 24November 10
90% (likely)March 1November 27
Frost-free season (32°F, 50% chance)
233 days
Hard frost (28°F), last in spring, 50% chance after
March 8
Hard frost (28°F), first in fall, 50% chance before
November 22

The last 15 years (2006–2020 normals)

Typical last frost March 23 (1 day earlier than the 30-year normal), typical first fall frost November 7 (3 days earlier). 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 Clanton: chance of a frost after this dateSpring, chance of a frost after the date: 10% April 11, 20% April 3, 30% March 31, 40% March 28, 50% March 24, 60% March 19, 70% March 15, 80% March 9, 90% March 1. Observed last spring frost in recent years: 2021 April 4, 2022 March 15, 2024 March 19, 2025 March 21.Spring: last frostChance of a frost after this date10%50%90%Mar 1Apr 1Apr 11Mar 24Mar 12021: April 42022: March 152024: March 192025: March 21Fall at Clanton: chance of a frost before this dateFall, chance of a frost before the date: 10% October 28, 20% November 1, 30% November 4, 40% November 7, 50% November 10, 60% November 13, 70% November 16, 80% November 21, 90% November 27. Observed first fall frost in recent years: 2021 November 14, 2025 November 11.Fall: first frostChance of a frost before this date10%50%90%Nov 1Dec 1Oct 28Nov 10Nov 272021: November 142025: November 11
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 4November 14
2022March 15incomplete record
2023incomplete recordincomplete record
2024March 19incomplete record
2025March 21November 11
2026incomplete recordseason not over yet

What these dates mean

Setting out tender crops on the early spring date, March 1, carries a 90% chance of a light frost occurring later, making it a gamble for growers in Clanton. The cautious spring plan uses the later April 11 date, when only a 10% chance of frost remains. For the autumn season, the careful approach finishes tender crops by October 28, which has only a 10% chance that a light frost has arrived earlier, while counting on November 27 would be a gamble with a 90% chance of frost already present.

The 50% spring date, March 24, marks a 50% chance of a light frost later, and the 50% fall date, November 10, marks a 50% chance of a frost earlier. Hard-frost thresholds are earlier, with the spring median at March 8 and the fall median at November 22; a hard frost at 28 °F 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 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 28" 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 Clanton, ALNumbered nearest stations: 1 — Sylacauga, AL — 35 mi; 2 — Childersburg, AL — 36 mi; 3 — Montgomery, AL — 37 mi; 4 — Alexander City, AL — 39 mi; 5 — Marion Junction, AL — 44 mi.25 mi · 40 km1. Sylacauga, AL — 35 mi12. Childersburg, AL — 36 mi23. Montgomery, AL — 37 mi34. Alexander City, AL — 39 mi45. Marion Junction, AL — 44 mi5
  1. Sylacauga, AL 35 mi (57 km)
  2. Childersburg, AL 36 mi (58 km)
  3. Montgomery, AL 37 mi (60 km)
  4. Alexander City, AL 39 mi (63 km)
  5. Marion Junction, AL 44 mi (70 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: 32.8161, -86.6042.