Frost Dates for 35581 — Phil Campbell, Alabama

Half of springs at Russellville 4 SSE, AL see their last 32°F night by April 5; only one in ten is past it by March 18, and one in ten still has one after April 22. Planting tender crops after April 11 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 17 20%, and after April 22 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 October 28 in half of years, as early as October 16 one year in ten, and holds off past November 9 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 8 days later, around November 5; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 9, 13 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 205 days in a typical year, shorter than at 94% of the 115 Alabama stations; it reaches 228 days one year in ten and falls short of 183 one year in ten. On average 76 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 19, and return around October 19. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes in 93% of winters, usually between December 29 and February 5.

July is the warmest month at Russellville 4 SSE, AL, averaging 88°F by day and 68°F at night; January is the coldest at 51°F and 30°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 61% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 4,602 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 94% of the 115 Alabama stations. 40% of them (1,821) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 857. Precipitation totals 58.8 inches a year, most in December (6.3") and least in November (3.9"); May to September bring 40% of it.

The nearest other station, Haleyville, AL, 9 miles southeast of Phil Campbell and 200 feet higher, has a last frost 7 days earlier (March 29), a first frost 12 days later (November 9), a season 23 days longer.

Measurable snow is rare here: only 6 of 21 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Russellville #2, AL, 11.6 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

ZIP 35581 is 8 miles from Russellville 4 SSE, AL, which stands at 720 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 35581 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.