USDA Hardiness Zone 8a
Frost Dates for 35044 — Childersburg, Alabama
NOAA 1991–2020 normals from Childersburg Wtp, AL (418 ft), 1 miles northeast.
Updated
In Childersburg, the last spring frost (32°F) is around March 31 in half of years and has passed by April 16 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around November 2, as early as October 20 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 216 days (NOAA, Childersburg Wtp, AL).
- Last spring frost
- March 31
- First fall frost
- November 2
- Growing season
- 216 days
- Hardiness zone
- 8a
50% probability
50% probability
freeze-free, 50%
10 to 15°F (-12.2 to -9.4°C) coldest night
- First snow
- Rare
- Last snow
- Rare
- Winters with snow
- 30%
- Snow per year
- 1.1"
median, 1991–2020
median, 1991–2020
6 of 20 observed
NOAA normal
Frost risk by date in Childersburg
Half of springs at Childersburg Wtp, AL see their last 32°F night by March 31; only one in ten is past it by March 10, and one in ten still has one after April 16. Planting tender crops after April 6 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 9 20%, and after April 16 10%. The 16 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 80% of the 115 Alabama stations behind this site's ZIP pages.
In fall the first 32°F night comes by November 2 in half of years, as early as October 20 one year in ten, and holds off past November 16 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 10 days later, around November 12; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 4, 12 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 216 days in a typical year, shorter than at 77% of the 115 Alabama stations; it reaches 242 days one year in ten and falls short of 194 one year in ten. On average 58 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 11 days longer, to about April 11, and return around October 25. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 100% of winters and 16°F in 79%.
| Low | 90% | 80% | 70% | 60% | 50% | 40% | 30% | 20% | 10% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Mar 26 | Mar 31 | Apr 4 | Apr 8 | Apr 11 | Apr 15 | Apr 18 | Apr 22 | Apr 27 |
| 32°F | Mar 10 | Mar 18 | Mar 23 | Mar 27 | Mar 31 | Apr 3 | Apr 6 | Apr 9 | Apr 16 |
| 28°F | Feb 23 | Feb 28 | Mar 6 | Mar 12 | Mar 16 | Mar 21 | Mar 25 | Mar 30 | Apr 4 |
| 24°F | Jan 31 | Feb 12 | Feb 18 | Feb 23 | Feb 28 | Mar 4 | Mar 10 | Mar 15 | Mar 21 |
| 20°F98% of yrs | Jan 13 | Jan 24 | Jan 30 | Feb 3 | Feb 9 | Feb 16 | Feb 24 | Mar 3 | Mar 14 |
| 16°F79% of yrs | Dec 31 | Jan 11 | Jan 17 | Jan 23 | Jan 27 | Feb 1 | Feb 5 | Feb 17 | Mar 4 |
| Low | 10% | 20% | 30% | 40% | 50% | 60% | 70% | 80% | 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Oct 12 | Oct 17 | Oct 19 | Oct 22 | Oct 25 | Oct 27 | Oct 30 | Nov 2 | Nov 5 |
| 32°F | Oct 20 | Oct 25 | Oct 28 | Oct 31 | Nov 2 | Nov 4 | Nov 7 | Nov 11 | Nov 16 |
| 28°F | Oct 31 | Nov 3 | Nov 6 | Nov 8 | Nov 12 | Nov 16 | Nov 20 | Nov 26 | Dec 3 |
| 24°F | Nov 8 | Nov 13 | Nov 18 | Nov 22 | Nov 27 | Dec 1 | Dec 5 | Dec 12 | Dec 25 |
| 20°F98% of yrs | Nov 21 | Nov 29 | Dec 4 | Dec 9 | Dec 16 | Dec 25 | Jan 1 | Jan 6 | Jan 17 |
| 16°F79% of yrs | Dec 5 | Dec 16 | Dec 27 | Jan 1 | Jan 5 | Jan 10 | Jan 16 | Jan 25 | Feb 5 |
Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at Childersburg Wtp, AL, 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 35044 →Compare Childersburg with another place →
Weather by month in Childersburg
July is the warmest month at Childersburg Wtp, AL, averaging 93°F by day and 70°F at night; January is the coldest at 58°F and 34°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from November to March (a 90% chance or more). From May to September the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, April still brings one in 46% of years.
Warmth for growing adds up to 5,871 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 70% of the 115 Alabama stations. 41% of them (2,410) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 983. Precipitation totals 56.0 inches a year, most in February (6.0") and least in October (3.3"); May to September bring 38% of it.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | 32°F night | Nights ≤ 32°F | GDD 50°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 58 | 34 | 5.5 | 100% | 15 | 76 |
| Feb | 63 | 38 | 6.0 | 98% | 11 | 112 |
| Mar | 71 | 43 | 5.4 | 93% | 6 | 256 |
| Apr | 79 | 50 | 4.8 | 46% | 1 | 436 |
| May | 85 | 59 | 4.4 | 0% | 0 | 676 |
| Jun | 91 | 67 | 4.5 | 0% | 0 | 855 |
| Jul | 93 | 70 | 4.2 | 0% | 0 | 983 |
| Aug | 93 | 69 | 4.3 | 0% | 0 | 955 |
| Sep | 88 | 63 | 3.7 | 0% | 0 | 769 |
| Oct | 79 | 51 | 3.3 | 42% | 1 | 474 |
| Nov | 68 | 41 | 4.7 | 96% | 9 | 186 |
| Dec | 60 | 36 | 5.2 | 100% | 14 | 94 |
Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Childersburg Wtp, AL (418 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, Sylacauga 4 NE, AL, 9 miles southeast of Childersburg, has a last frost 2 days later (April 2), a first frost 2 days earlier (October 31), a season 5 days shorter.
When it snows in Childersburg, Alabama
Measurable snow is rare here: only 6 of 20 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Childersburg Wtp, AL, 1.4 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.
Planting calendar for 35044
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| January 20 – February 3 | Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out. |
| February 3 – February 17 | Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early. |
| March 3 – March 17 | Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil. |
| March 31 onward | Transplant tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, cucumbersThe average last freeze has passed — still watch the actual forecast. |
| by August 10 | Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops. |
| by October 19 | Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation. |
| November 2 onward | Plant 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 35044 is 1 mile from Childersburg Wtp, AL, which stands at 418 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 5 other ZIP codes share the station. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 35044 in zone 8a, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged 10 to 15°F (-12.2 to -9.4°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.
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.