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USDA Hardiness Zone 8a

Frost Dates for 35045 — Clanton, Alabama

NOAA 1991–2020 normals from Clanton 2 NE, AL (584 ft), 2 miles northeast.

Updated

In Clanton, the last spring frost (32°F) is around March 22 in half of years and has passed by April 9 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around November 10, as early as October 30 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 237 days (NOAA, Clanton 2 NE, AL).

Last spring frost
March 22

50% probability

First fall frost
November 10

50% probability

Growing season
237 days

freeze-free, 50%

Hardiness zone
8a

10 to 15°F (-12.2 to -9.4°C) coldest night

First snow
Rare

median, 1991–2020

Last snow
Rare

median, 1991–2020

Winters with snow
5%

1 of 20 observed

Snow per year
0.5"

NOAA normal

Frost risk by date in Clanton

Half of springs at Clanton 2 NE, AL see their last 32°F night by March 22; only one in ten is past it by February 28, and one in ten still has one after April 9. Planting tender crops after March 29 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 3 20%, and after April 9 10%. The 18 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 46% of the 115 Alabama stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by November 10 in half of years, as early as October 30 one year in ten, and holds off past December 1 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 13 days later, around November 23; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is March 26, 14 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 237 days in a typical year, longer than at 60% of the 115 Alabama stations; it reaches 264 days one year in ten and falls short of 211 one year in ten. On average 49 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 13 days longer, to about April 4, and return around November 1. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 99% of winters and 16°F in 58%.

Spring: the chance of another night this cold after the date
Low90%80%70%60%50%40%30%20%10%
36°FMar 16Mar 24Mar 28Apr 1Apr 4Apr 7Apr 10Apr 15Apr 20
32°FFeb 28Mar 7Mar 13Mar 17Mar 22Mar 26Mar 29Apr 3Apr 9
28°FFeb 11Feb 19Feb 25Feb 28Mar 5Mar 10Mar 14Mar 19Mar 26
24°F99% of yrsJan 20Jan 30Feb 6Feb 12Feb 17Feb 24Mar 1Mar 6Mar 13
20°F89% of yrsJan 2Jan 13Jan 20Jan 27Feb 1Feb 6Feb 13Feb 24Mar 3
16°F58% of yrsDec 27Jan 4Jan 11Jan 16Jan 22Jan 27Jan 31Feb 6Feb 14
Fall: the chance the first night this cold has come by the date
Low10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%
36°FOct 19Oct 23Oct 27Oct 29Nov 1Nov 3Nov 6Nov 9Nov 16
32°FOct 30Nov 2Nov 5Nov 7Nov 10Nov 13Nov 17Nov 23Dec 1
28°FNov 5Nov 10Nov 15Nov 19Nov 23Nov 28Dec 1Dec 5Dec 15
24°F99% of yrsNov 15Nov 22Nov 29Dec 2Dec 7Dec 13Dec 24Dec 31Jan 7
20°F89% of yrsDec 1Dec 9Dec 20Dec 27Jan 1Jan 5Jan 11Jan 17Jan 31
16°F58% of yrsDec 15Dec 27Jan 1Jan 5Jan 10Jan 15Jan 20Jan 27Feb 5

Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at Clanton 2 NE, 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 35045 →Compare Clanton with another place →

Weather by month in Clanton

July is the warmest month at Clanton 2 NE, AL, averaging 90°F by day and 70°F at night; January is the coldest at 56°F and 34°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 83% of years and April still brings one in 25% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 5,387 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 58% of the 115 Alabama stations. 40% of them (2,168) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 924. Precipitation totals 56.5 inches a year, most in March (6.0") and least in September (3.5"); May to September bring 37% of it.

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Clanton 2 NE, AL
MonthHigh °FLow °FPrecip. in32°F nightNights ≤ 32°FGDD 50°F
Jan56345.9100%1766
Feb60385.597%1092
Mar68446.083%4218
Apr75505.225%<1371
May81594.20%0617
Jun87674.50%0804
Jul90704.70%0924
Aug89693.80%0904
Sep85633.50%0718
Oct76523.613%<1437
Nov65414.688%7153
Dec57375.099%1283

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Clanton 2 NE, AL (584 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, Clanton, AL, 3 miles southeast of Clanton, has a last frost 2 days later (March 24), the same first-frost date, a season 4 days shorter.

Frost dates for 36022 (Deatsville) →

When it snows in Clanton, Alabama

Measurable snow is rare here: only 1 of 20 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Clanton, AL, 2.6 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

Planting calendar for 35045

What to do and when, from the 50% frost dates for Clanton, Alabama
WhenWhat to do
January 11 – January 25Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out.
January 25 – February 8Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early.
February 22 – March 8Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil.
March 22 onwardTransplant tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, cucumbersThe average last freeze has passed — still watch the actual forecast.
by August 18Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops.
by October 27Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation.
November 10 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 35045 is 2 miles from Clanton 2 NE, AL, which stands at 584 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 1 other ZIP code shares the station. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 35045 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.

Frost dates across Alabama →

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 8a places in Alabama