U.S. Frost Dates by Weather Station

NOAA station USC00017999 · Alabama

Frost Dates for Sylacauga, AL

NOAA weather station Sylacauga 4 NE (USC00017999), Alabama · elevation 490 ft (149 m) · hardiness zone 8a*

  • Lower-risk planting dateafter April 19only 1 spring in 10 still has a frost later
  • Typical last frostApril 250% chance of a frost after it
  • Typical first fall frostOctober 3150% chance of a frost before it
  • Frost-free season211 daystypical year, 32°F
  • Hardiness zone8acalculated*

The year at a glance

Frost season at Sylacauga, ALSpring: a frost after March 13 in 9 years out of 10, after April 2 in half of the years, after April 19 in 1 year out of 10. Fall: the first frost comes before October 16 in 1 year out of 10, before October 31 in half of the years, before November 15 in 9 years out of 10. Typical frost-free season: 211 days.JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecLast frost ~Apr 2First frost ~Oct 31Frost season at Sylacauga, ALSpring: a frost after March 13 in 9 years out of 10, after April 2 in half of the years, after April 19 in 1 year out of 10. Fall: the first frost comes before October 16 in 1 year out of 10, before October 31 in half of the years, before November 15 in 9 years out of 10. Typical frost-free season: 211 days.JFMAMJJASONDLast frost ~Apr 2First frost ~Oct 31
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 19October 16
50% (typical)April 2October 31
90% (likely)March 13November 15
Frost-free season (32°F, 50% chance)
211 days
Hard frost (28°F), last in spring, 50% chance after
March 19
Hard frost (28°F), first in fall, 50% chance before
November 8

The last 15 years (2006–2020 normals)

Typical last frost April 1 (1 day earlier than the 30-year normal), typical first fall frost November 1 (1 day later). Frost-free season 214 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 Sylacauga: chance of a frost after this dateSpring, chance of a frost after the date: 10% April 19, 20% April 13, 30% April 9, 40% April 5, 50% April 2, 60% March 31, 70% March 26, 80% March 20, 90% March 13. Observed last spring frost in recent years: 2021 April 23, 2022 March 15, 2023 March 22, 2024 March 21, 2025 March 22, 2026 March 20.Spring: last frostChance of a frost after this date10%50%90%Mar 1Apr 1May 1Apr 19Apr 2Mar 132021: April 232022: March 152023: March 222024: March 212025: March 222026: March 20Fall at Sylacauga: chance of a frost before this dateFall, chance of a frost before the date: 10% October 16, 20% October 20, 30% October 24, 40% October 28, 50% October 31, 60% November 2, 70% November 5, 80% November 9, 90% November 15. Observed first fall frost in recent years: 2021 November 7, 2022 October 19, 2023 November 2, 2024 October 17, 2025 November 3.Fall: first frostChance of a frost before this date10%50%90%Nov 1Oct 16Oct 31Nov 152021: November 72022: October 192023: November 22024: 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 23November 7
2022March 15October 19
2023March 22November 2
2024March 21October 17
2025March 22November 3
2026March 20season not over yet

What these dates mean

The span of 211 days between the 32°F 50% dates of April 2 and October 31 defines the window in which a light frost has an even chance of occurring later in spring or earlier in fall. For a gardener in Sylacauga the April 2 median marks the point where the chance of a frost later is 50%, while the October 31 median marks the point where the chance of a frost earlier is 50%.

The cautious spring date for setting out tender crops is April 19, which carries a 10% chance of a frost later; planting on March 13 would be a gamble with a 90% chance of frost later. In fall the cautious date to finish harvesting tender crops is October 16, with only a 10% chance that a frost has arrived earlier; aiming for November 15 would be a gamble with a 90% chance of a frost earlier.

A hard frost at 28°F can cause far greater damage to tender plants 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 19" 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 16" 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 Sylacauga, ALNumbered nearest stations: 1 — Childersburg, AL — 9 mi; 2 — Talladega, AL — 15 mi; 3 — Alexander City, AL — 24 mi; 4 — near Anniston, AL — 33 mi; 5 — Clanton, AL — 35 mi.GA25 mi · 40 km1. Childersburg, AL — 9 mi12. Talladega, AL — 15 mi23. Alexander City, AL — 24 mi34. near Anniston, AL — 33 mi45. Clanton, AL — 35 mi5
  1. Childersburg, AL 9 mi (15 km)
  2. Talladega, AL 15 mi (25 km)
  3. Alexander City, AL 24 mi (38 km)
  4. near Anniston, AL 33 mi (54 km)
  5. Clanton, AL 35 mi (57 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: 33.2053, -86.2114.