USDA Hardiness Zone 8a
Frost Dates for 35654 — Russellville, Alabama
NOAA 1991–2020 normals from Russellville #2, AL (830 ft), 5 miles west.
Updated
In Russellville, the last spring frost (32°F) is around March 31 in half of years and has passed by April 16 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around November 4, as early as October 21 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 221 days (NOAA, Russellville #2, AL).
- Last spring frost
- March 31
- First fall frost
- November 4
- Growing season
- 221 days
- Hardiness zone
- 8a
50% probability
50% probability
freeze-free, 50%
10 to 15°F (-12.2 to -9.4°C) coldest night
- First snow
- Rare
- Last snow
- Rare
- Winters with snow
- 29%
- Snow per year
- 0.6"
median, 1991–2020
median, 1991–2020
6 of 21 observed
NOAA normal
Frost risk by date in Russellville
Half of springs at Russellville #2, AL see their last 32°F night by March 31; only one in ten is past it by March 13, and one in ten still has one after April 16. Planting tender crops after April 6 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 9 20%, and after April 16 10%. The 16 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 80% of the 115 Alabama stations behind this site's ZIP pages.
In fall the first 32°F night comes by November 4 in half of years, as early as October 21 one year in ten, and holds off past November 24 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 12 days later, around November 16; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 3, 13 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 221 days in a typical year, shorter than at 70% of the 115 Alabama stations; it reaches 246 days one year in ten and falls short of 197 one year in ten. On average 71 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 11 days longer, to about April 11, and return around October 26. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 100% of winters and 16°F in 83%.
| Low | 90% | 80% | 70% | 60% | 50% | 40% | 30% | 20% | 10% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Mar 27 | Apr 1 | Apr 5 | Apr 8 | Apr 11 | Apr 15 | Apr 19 | Apr 24 | Apr 30 |
| 32°F | Mar 13 | Mar 18 | Mar 24 | Mar 27 | Mar 31 | Apr 3 | Apr 6 | Apr 9 | Apr 16 |
| 28°F | Feb 26 | Mar 3 | Mar 8 | Mar 13 | Mar 17 | Mar 20 | Mar 26 | Mar 30 | Apr 3 |
| 24°F | Feb 3 | Feb 16 | Feb 23 | Feb 28 | Mar 4 | Mar 8 | Mar 12 | Mar 17 | Mar 24 |
| 20°F97% of yrs | Jan 16 | Jan 28 | Feb 3 | Feb 12 | Feb 19 | Feb 26 | Mar 2 | Mar 7 | Mar 15 |
| 16°F83% of yrs | Jan 3 | Jan 14 | Jan 21 | Jan 28 | Feb 1 | Feb 9 | Feb 17 | Feb 28 | Mar 7 |
| Low | 10% | 20% | 30% | 40% | 50% | 60% | 70% | 80% | 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Oct 13 | Oct 17 | Oct 20 | Oct 23 | Oct 26 | Oct 29 | Nov 1 | Nov 4 | Nov 9 |
| 32°F | Oct 21 | Oct 27 | Oct 30 | Nov 1 | Nov 4 | Nov 7 | Nov 12 | Nov 17 | Nov 24 |
| 28°F | Nov 1 | Nov 4 | Nov 7 | Nov 12 | Nov 16 | Nov 19 | Nov 24 | Nov 30 | Dec 5 |
| 24°F | Nov 8 | Nov 15 | Nov 20 | Nov 25 | Dec 1 | Dec 3 | Dec 7 | Dec 16 | Dec 27 |
| 20°F97% of yrs | Nov 20 | Nov 28 | Dec 2 | Dec 8 | Dec 16 | Dec 24 | Jan 1 | Jan 7 | Jan 18 |
| 16°F83% of yrs | Dec 3 | Dec 14 | Dec 24 | Jan 1 | Jan 4 | Jan 10 | Jan 16 | Jan 24 | Feb 5 |
Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at Russellville #2, 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 35654 →Compare Russellville with another place →
Weather by month in Russellville
July is the warmest month at Russellville #2, AL, averaging 91°F by day and 70°F at night; January is the coldest at 51°F and 32°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 48% of years.
Warmth for growing adds up to 5,173 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 67% of the 115 Alabama stations. 39% of them (2,012) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 941. Precipitation totals 56.7 inches a year, most in March (5.4") and least in June (3.8"); May to September bring 40% of it.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | 32°F night | Nights ≤ 32°F | GDD 50°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 51 | 32 | 5.0 | 100% | 19 | 42 |
| Feb | 56 | 34 | 5.1 | 100% | 15 | 57 |
| Mar | 65 | 40 | 5.4 | 95% | 9 | 170 |
| Apr | 73 | 49 | 5.1 | 48% | 2 | 343 |
| May | 81 | 58 | 5.4 | 1% | 0 | 595 |
| Jun | 88 | 66 | 3.8 | 0% | 0 | 805 |
| Jul | 91 | 70 | 4.5 | 0% | 0 | 941 |
| Aug | 91 | 69 | 4.7 | 0% | 0 | 919 |
| Sep | 85 | 62 | 4.0 | 0% | 0 | 708 |
| Oct | 75 | 50 | 3.8 | 34% | 1 | 398 |
| Nov | 63 | 40 | 4.5 | 93% | 9 | 137 |
| Dec | 54 | 34 | 5.4 | 100% | 16 | 58 |
Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Russellville #2, AL (830 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, Russellville 4 SSE, AL, 5 miles southwest of Russellville, has a last frost 5 days later (April 5), a first frost 7 days earlier (October 28), a season 16 days shorter.
When it snows in Russellville, Alabama
Measurable snow is rare here: only 6 of 21 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Russellville #2, AL, 4.5 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.
Planting calendar for 35654
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| January 20 – February 3 | Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out. |
| February 3 – February 17 | Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early. |
| March 3 – March 17 | Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil. |
| March 31 onward | Transplant tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, cucumbersThe average last freeze has passed — still watch the actual forecast. |
| by August 12 | Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops. |
| by October 21 | Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation. |
| November 4 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 35654 is 5 miles from Russellville #2, AL, which stands at 830 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 1 other ZIP code shares the station; its figures are presented in full for 35653 (Russellville). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 35654 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.
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.