Frost Dates for 35646 — Leighton, Alabama

Half of springs at Muscle Shoals Regional Airport, AL see their last 32°F night by March 20; only one in ten is past it by February 28, and one in ten still has one after April 6. Planting tender crops after March 28 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 1 20%, and after April 6 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 8 in half of years, as early as October 25 one year in ten, and holds off past November 26 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 12 days later, around November 20; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is March 25, 12 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 233 days in a typical year, longer than at 52% of the 115 Alabama stations; it reaches 257 days one year in ten and falls short of 211 one year in ten. On average 56 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 October 29. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 100% of winters and 16°F in 68%.

July is the warmest month at Muscle Shoals Regional Airport, AL, averaging 92°F by day and 71°F at night; January is the coldest at 52°F and 34°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from November 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 87% of years and April still brings one in 21% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 5,528 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 51% of the 115 Alabama stations. 40% of them (2,221) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 976. Precipitation totals 54.5 inches a year, most in December (5.5") and least in October (3.5"); May to September bring 40% of it.

The nearest other station, Muscle Shoals Wtp, AL, 9 miles northwest of Leighton, has a last frost 10 days later (March 30), a first frost 5 days earlier (November 3), a season 13 days shorter.

Measurable snow is rare here: only 6 of 21 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Russellville #2, AL, 15.2 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

ZIP 35646 is 7 miles from Muscle Shoals Regional Airport, AL, which stands at 540 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 35646 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.