USDA Hardiness Zone 8b
Frost Dates for 35456 — Duncanville, Alabama
NOAA 1991–2020 normals from Northport 2 S, AL (150 ft), 13 miles northwest.
Updated
In Duncanville, the last spring frost (32°F) is around March 18 in half of years and has passed by April 4 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around November 10, as early as October 29 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 239 days (NOAA, Northport 2 S, AL).
- Last spring frost
- March 18
- First fall frost
- November 10
- Growing season
- 239 days
- Hardiness zone
- 8b
50% probability
50% probability
freeze-free, 50%
15 to 20°F (-9.4 to -6.7°C) coldest night
- First snow
- Rare
- Last snow
- Rare
- Winters with snow
- 5%
- Snow per year
- 0"
median, 1991–2020
median, 1991–2020
1 of 20 observed
NOAA normal
Frost risk by date in Duncanville
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%.
| Low | 90% | 80% | 70% | 60% | 50% | 40% | 30% | 20% | 10% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Mar 14 | Mar 20 | Mar 25 | Mar 29 | Apr 1 | Apr 3 | Apr 7 | Apr 11 | Apr 17 |
| 32°F | Feb 26 | Mar 5 | Mar 10 | Mar 14 | Mar 18 | Mar 22 | Mar 25 | Mar 30 | Apr 4 |
| 28°F | Feb 6 | Feb 17 | Feb 24 | Feb 28 | Mar 3 | Mar 7 | Mar 11 | Mar 16 | Mar 22 |
| 24°F99% of yrs | Jan 16 | Jan 27 | Feb 2 | Feb 8 | Feb 16 | Feb 22 | Feb 28 | Mar 5 | Mar 13 |
| 20°F84% of yrs | Jan 1 | Jan 11 | Jan 18 | Jan 26 | Jan 31 | Feb 3 | Feb 10 | Feb 19 | Mar 1 |
| 16°F49% of yrs | too rare for a date | ||||||||
| Low | 10% | 20% | 30% | 40% | 50% | 60% | 70% | 80% | 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Oct 20 | Oct 23 | Oct 27 | Oct 30 | Nov 1 | Nov 3 | Nov 6 | Nov 9 | Nov 15 |
| 32°F | Oct 29 | Nov 1 | Nov 5 | Nov 7 | Nov 10 | Nov 14 | Nov 17 | Nov 22 | Nov 29 |
| 28°F | Nov 6 | Nov 11 | Nov 16 | Nov 20 | Nov 25 | Nov 29 | Dec 3 | Dec 8 | Dec 22 |
| 24°F99% of yrs | Nov 18 | Nov 26 | Dec 1 | Dec 5 | Dec 11 | Dec 20 | Dec 28 | Jan 3 | Jan 13 |
| 20°F84% of yrs | Dec 3 | Dec 11 | Dec 21 | Dec 27 | Jan 2 | Jan 7 | Jan 12 | Jan 20 | Feb 1 |
| 16°F49% of yrs | too rare for a date | ||||||||
Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at Northport 2 S, 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 35456 →Compare Duncanville with another place →
Weather by month in Duncanville
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.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | 32°F night | Nights ≤ 32°F | GDD 50°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 56 | 35 | 5.1 | 100% | 16 | 72 |
| Feb | 61 | 38 | 5.6 | 95% | 10 | 103 |
| Mar | 68 | 45 | 5.5 | 82% | 4 | 239 |
| Apr | 76 | 52 | 5.4 | 15% | <1 | 413 |
| May | 84 | 60 | 4.0 | 0% | 0 | 677 |
| Jun | 90 | 68 | 5.3 | 0% | 0 | 865 |
| Jul | 92 | 71 | 4.9 | 0% | 0 | 983 |
| Aug | 92 | 71 | 4.2 | 0% | 0 | 967 |
| Sep | 87 | 65 | 3.6 | 0% | 0 | 778 |
| Oct | 78 | 53 | 3.6 | 15% | <1 | 474 |
| Nov | 67 | 42 | 4.8 | 89% | 6 | 177 |
| Dec | 58 | 37 | 5.2 | 100% | 12 | 84 |
Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Northport 2 S, AL (150 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, Tuscaloosa Acfd, AL, 14 miles northwest of Duncanville, has a last frost 6 days earlier (March 12), a first frost 5 days later (November 15), a season 11 days longer.
When it snows in Duncanville, Alabama
Measurable snow is rare here: only 1 of 20 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Moundville, AL, 12.2 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.
Planting calendar for 35456
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| January 7 – January 21 | Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out. |
| January 21 – February 4 | Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early. |
| February 18 – March 4 | Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil. |
| March 18 onward | Transplant tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, cucumbersThe average last freeze has passed — still watch the actual forecast. |
| by August 18 | Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops. |
| by October 27 | Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation. |
| November 10 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 35456 is 13 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; its figures are presented in full for 35405 (Tuscaloosa). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 35456 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.
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.