Frost Dates for 35490 — Vance, Alabama

Half of springs at Bankhead L&D, AL see their last 32°F night by March 20; only one in ten is past it by February 26, 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 20 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 70% of the 115 Alabama stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by November 11 in half of years, as early as October 29 one year in ten, and holds off past November 30 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 11 days later, around November 22; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is March 27, 13 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 235 days in a typical year, longer than at 57% of the 115 Alabama stations; it reaches 261 days one year in ten and falls short of 211 one year in ten. On average 60 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 2, and return around November 2. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 100% of winters and 16°F in 61%.

July is the warmest month at Bankhead L&D, AL, averaging 91°F by day and 71°F at night; January is the coldest at 54°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 82% of years and April still brings one in 24% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 5,589 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 52% of the 115 Alabama stations. 40% of them (2,215) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 967. Precipitation totals 60.3 inches a year, most in January (6.2") and least in October (3.3"); May to September bring 38% of it.

The nearest other station, Bessemer 3 WSW, AL, 20 miles northeast of Vance and 165 feet higher, has a last frost 3 days later (March 23), a first frost 1 day earlier (November 10), a season 4 days shorter.

Measurable snow is rare here: only 2 of 19 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Holt L&D, AL, 12.1 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

ZIP 35490 is 19 miles from Bankhead L&D, AL, which stands at 280 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 3 other ZIP codes share the station. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 35490 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.