Skip to content

USDA Hardiness Zone 9a

Frost Dates for 32577 — Molino, Florida

NOAA 1991–2020 normals from Milton Exp Stn, FL (217 ft), 13 miles east.

Updated

In Molino, the last spring frost (32°F) is around March 15 in half of years and has passed by April 3 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around November 13, as early as October 30 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 241 days (NOAA, Milton Exp Stn, FL).

Last spring frost
March 15

50% probability

First fall frost
November 13

50% probability

Growing season
241 days

freeze-free, 50%

Hardiness zone
9a

20 to 25°F (-6.7 to -3.9°C) coldest night

First snow
Rare

median, 1991–2020

Last snow
Rare

median, 1991–2020

Winters with snow
6%

1 of 18 observed

Snow per year
0.1"

NOAA normal

Frost risk by date in Molino

Half of springs at Milton Exp Stn, FL see their last 32°F night by March 15; only one in ten is past it by February 22, and one in ten still has one after April 3. Planting tender crops after March 24 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after March 28 20%, and after April 3 10%. The 19 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 88% of the 101 Florida stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by November 13 in half of years, as early as October 30 one year in ten, and holds off past December 2 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 11 days later, around November 24; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is March 22, 12 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 241 days in a typical year, shorter than at 99% of the 102 Florida stations; it reaches 269 days one year in ten and falls short of 217 one year in ten. On average 31 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 15 days longer, to about March 30, and return around November 3. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 97% of winters and 16°F in 42%.

Spring: the chance of another night this cold after the date
Low90%80%70%60%50%40%30%20%10%
36°FMar 10Mar 17Mar 22Mar 26Mar 30Apr 2Apr 5Apr 9Apr 16
32°FFeb 22Mar 1Mar 7Mar 11Mar 15Mar 19Mar 24Mar 28Apr 3
28°FFeb 4Feb 14Feb 20Feb 26Mar 1Mar 6Mar 10Mar 15Mar 22
24°F97% of yrsJan 15Jan 26Feb 1Feb 6Feb 14Feb 21Feb 27Mar 3Mar 12
20°F79% of yrsDec 28Jan 10Jan 17Jan 24Jan 30Feb 2Feb 8Feb 17Mar 1
16°F42% of yrstoo rare for a date
Fall: the chance the first night this cold has come by the date
Low10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%
36°FOct 21Oct 25Oct 28Nov 1Nov 3Nov 5Nov 8Nov 12Nov 17
32°FOct 30Nov 2Nov 5Nov 9Nov 13Nov 16Nov 20Nov 24Dec 2
28°FNov 5Nov 10Nov 16Nov 20Nov 24Nov 28Dec 3Dec 9Dec 20
24°F97% of yrsNov 17Nov 25Dec 1Dec 6Dec 12Dec 21Dec 29Jan 6Jan 18
20°F79% of yrsDec 3Dec 12Dec 21Dec 30Jan 3Jan 8Jan 15Jan 22Feb 4
16°F42% of yrstoo rare for a date

Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at Milton Exp Stn, FL, from NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals. Where a temperature is reached in fewer than 99.5% of years, the dates describe only the years that reach it. Not a forecast.

Frost risk on any date in 32577 →Compare Molino with another place →

Weather by month in Molino

July is the warmest month at Milton Exp Stn, FL, averaging 91°F by day and 69°F at night; January is the coldest at 60°F and 36°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from December to February (a 90% chance or more). From May to September the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, March still brings one in 78% of years and April still brings one in 14% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 5,987 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), the fewest of the 158 Florida stations. 41% of them (2,473) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 932. Precipitation totals 67.8 inches a year, most in July (7.7") and least in May (3.8"); May to September bring 48% of it.

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Milton Exp Stn, FL
MonthHigh °FLow °FPrecip. in32°F nightNights ≤ 32°FGDD 50°F
Jan60365.999%1194
Feb64404.794%6128
Mar71455.478%2278
Apr77525.614%<1433
May85603.80%0690
Jun90677.50%0850
Jul91697.70%0932
Aug91696.90%0921
Sep87656.50%0781
Oct80544.412%<1525
Nov70434.887%3231
Dec63394.697%9125

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Milton Exp Stn, FL (217 ft), NOAA NCEI. "32°F night": chance of at least one in the month. GDD: growing degree days, base 50°F.

Compared with the next station

The nearest other station, Pensacola 7 NNE, FL, 17 miles southeast of Molino, has a last frost 26 days earlier (February 17), a first frost 26 days later (December 9), a season 58 days longer.

Frost dates for 32514 (Pensacola) →

When it snows in Molino, Florida

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, 12.6 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

Planting calendar for 32577

What to do and when, from the 50% frost dates for Molino, Florida
WhenWhat to do
January 4 – January 18Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out.
January 18 – February 1Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early.
February 15 – March 1Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil.
March 15 onwardTransplant tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, cucumbersThe average last freeze has passed — still watch the actual forecast.
by August 21Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops.
by October 30Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation.
November 13 onwardPlant garlic, mulch beds, lift tender bulbsGarlic wants a cold spell; bare soil loses structure over winter.

The weeks before and after the 50% dates are general rules of thumb, not NOAA figures; a seed packet gives the timing for each variety.

Where these figures come from

ZIP 32577 is 13 miles from Milton Exp Stn, FL, which stands at 217 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 1 other ZIP code shares the station; its figures are presented in full for 32565 (Jay). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 32577 in zone 9a, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged 20 to 25°F (-6.7 to -3.9°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.

Frost dates across Florida →

Hardiness zone and temperature range: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023 (USDA-ARS, Oregon State University), ZIP-code listing, unchanged. °C converted from °F by this site.

Thirty-year averages, not a forecast: check the forecast before planting out. How stations are matched and which pages are offered to search engines: methodology.

ZIP codes measured at the same station

Other zone 9a places in Florida