Frost Dates for 32563 — Gulf Breeze, Florida

Half of springs at Whiting Field NAS South, FL see their last 32°F night by February 28; only one in ten is past it by February 1, and one in ten still has one after March 23. Planting tender crops after March 10 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after March 16 20%, and after March 23 10%. The 23 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 60% of the 101 Florida stations behind this site's ZIP pages, so a fixed calendar date is a gamble here.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by November 27 in half of years, as early as November 9 one year in ten, and holds off past January 2 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 27 days later, around December 24; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is March 12, 11 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 276 days in a typical year, shorter than at 71% of the 102 Florida stations; it reaches 314 days one year in ten and falls short of 245 one year in ten. On average 21 nights a year drop to 32°F or below. Nights of 36°F, when frost can still settle on leaves in low, open spots, continue 16 days longer, to about March 16, and return around November 14. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 68% of winters and 16°F in 7%.

July is the warmest month at Whiting Field NAS South, FL, averaging 93°F by day and 75°F at night; January is the coldest at 65°F and 42°F. A freezing night is all but certain in January (a 90% chance or more). From April to October the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, February still brings one in 81% of years and March still brings one in 49% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 7,226 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 75% of the 158 Florida stations. 42% of them (3,060) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 1,045.

The nearest other station, Whiting Field NAS, FL, 4 miles northeast of Gulf Breeze, has a last frost 14 days later (March 14), a first frost 8 days earlier (November 19), a season 25 days shorter.

Measurable snow is rare here: only 1 of 18 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Milton Exp Stn, FL, 9.9 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

ZIP 32563 is 4 miles from Whiting Field NAS South, FL, which stands at 178 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 32563 in zone 9b, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged 25 to 30°F (-3.9 to -1.1°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.