Frost Dates for 35905 — Glencoe, Alabama

Half of springs at Gadsden, AL see their last 32°F night by March 19; only one in ten is past it by February 27, and one in ten still has one after April 7. Planting tender crops after March 27 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after March 31 20%, and after April 7 10%. The 19 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 55% of the 115 Alabama stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by November 13 in half of years, as early as November 1 one year in ten, and holds off past December 1 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 14 days later, around November 27; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is March 24, 14 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 240 days in a typical year, longer than at 64% of the 115 Alabama stations; it reaches 268 days one year in ten and falls short of 217 one year in ten. On average 53 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 1, and return around November 3. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 99% of winters and 16°F in 60%.

July is the warmest month at Gadsden, AL, averaging 91°F by day and 71°F at night; January is the coldest at 53°F and 33°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from December to February (a 90% chance or more). From May to October the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, March still brings one in 85% of years and April still brings one in 20% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 5,448 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 57% of the 115 Alabama stations. 40% of them (2,160) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 962. Precipitation totals 57.8 inches a year, most in January (5.7") and least in October (3.5"); May to September bring 40% of it.

The nearest other station, Centre, AL, 20 miles northeast of Glencoe, has a last frost 18 days later (April 6), a first frost 13 days earlier (October 31), a season 33 days shorter.

Measurable snow is rare here: only 2 of 20 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Gadsden, AL, 6.2 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

ZIP 35905 is 6 miles from Gadsden, AL, which stands at 565 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 9 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 35901 (Gadsden). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 35905 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.