Frost Dates for 35405 — Tuscaloosa, Alabama

Half of springs at Northport 2 S, AL see their last 32°F night by March 18; only one in ten is past it by February 26, and one in ten still has one after April 4. Planting tender crops after March 25 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after March 30 20%, and after April 4 10%. The 17 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 64% 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 29 one year in ten, and holds off past November 29 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 15 days later, around November 25; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is March 22, 13 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 239 days in a typical year, longer than at 62% of the 115 Alabama stations; it reaches 266 days one year in ten and falls short of 215 one year in ten. On average 47 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 14 days longer, to about April 1, and return around November 1. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 99% of winters and 16°F in 49%.

July is the warmest month at Northport 2 S, AL, averaging 92°F by day and 71°F at night; January is the coldest at 56°F and 35°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 82% of years and April still brings one in 15% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 5,833 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 67% of the 115 Alabama stations. 41% of them (2,370) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 983. Precipitation totals 57.2 inches a year, most in February (5.6") and least in September (3.6"); May to September bring 38% of it.

The nearest other station, Tuscaloosa Acfd, AL, 7 miles northwest of Tuscaloosa, has a last frost 6 days earlier (March 12), a first frost 5 days later (November 15), a season 11 days longer.

Measurable snow is rare here: only 0 of 20 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Tuscaloosa Oliver Dam, AL, 5.8 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

ZIP 35405 is 6 miles from Northport 2 S, AL, which stands at 150 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 8 other ZIP codes share the station. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 35405 in zone 8b, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged 15 to 20°F (-9.4 to -6.7°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.