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USDA Hardiness Zone 8b

Frost Dates for 36445 — Frisco City, Alabama

NOAA 1991–2020 normals from Atmore, AL (300 ft), 17 miles south.

Updated

In Frisco City, the last spring frost (32°F) is around February 28 in half of years and has passed by March 21 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around November 27, as early as November 8 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 270 days (NOAA, Atmore, AL).

Last spring frost
February 28

50% probability

First fall frost
November 27

50% probability

Growing season
270 days

freeze-free, 50%

Hardiness zone
8b

15 to 20°F (-9.4 to -6.7°C) coldest night

First snow
Rare

median, 1991–2020

Last snow
Rare

median, 1991–2020

Winters with snow
0%

0 of 20 observed

Snow per year
0"

NOAA normal

Frost risk by date in Frisco City

Half of springs at Atmore, AL see their last 32°F night by February 28; only one in ten is past it by February 1, and one in ten still has one after March 21. Planting tender crops after March 9 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after March 15 20%, and after March 21 10%. The 21 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 88% of the 115 Alabama stations behind this site's ZIP pages, so a fixed calendar date is a gamble here.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by November 27 in half of years, as early as November 8 one year in ten, and holds off past December 24 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 17 days later, around December 14; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is March 10, 11 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 270 days in a typical year, longer than at 94% of the 115 Alabama stations; it reaches 305 days one year in ten and falls short of 243 one year in ten. On average 30 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 16 days longer, to about March 16, and return around November 14. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 82% of winters and 16°F in 16%.

Spring: the chance of another night this cold after the date
Low90%80%70%60%50%40%30%20%10%
36°FFeb 23Mar 1Mar 7Mar 12Mar 16Mar 20Mar 25Mar 30Apr 4
32°FFeb 1Feb 12Feb 19Feb 25Feb 28Mar 4Mar 9Mar 15Mar 21
28°F98% of yrsJan 11Jan 23Jan 31Feb 5Feb 12Feb 18Feb 25Mar 1Mar 10
24°F82% of yrsDec 31Jan 10Jan 16Jan 23Jan 28Feb 2Feb 7Feb 16Feb 28
20°F47% of yrstoo rare for a date
16°F16% of yrstoo rare for a date
Fall: the chance the first night this cold has come by the date
Low10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%
36°FOct 31Nov 3Nov 7Nov 10Nov 14Nov 17Nov 21Nov 26Dec 1
32°FNov 8Nov 14Nov 19Nov 23Nov 27Dec 1Dec 4Dec 11Dec 24
28°F98% of yrsNov 18Nov 27Dec 2Dec 7Dec 14Dec 23Dec 31Jan 4Jan 15
24°F82% of yrsDec 3Dec 12Dec 22Dec 29Jan 2Jan 7Jan 13Jan 21Feb 1
20°F47% of yrstoo rare for a date
16°F16% of yrstoo rare for a date

Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at Atmore, 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 36445 →Compare Frisco City with another place →

Weather by month in Frisco City

July is the warmest month at Atmore, AL, averaging 92°F by day and 73°F at night; January is the coldest at 61°F and 39°F. A freezing night is all but certain in January (a 90% chance or more). From April to October the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, February still brings one in 82% of years and March still brings one in 48% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 6,718 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 93% of the 115 Alabama stations. 42% of them (2,830) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 1,014. Precipitation totals 63.6 inches a year, most in July (6.9") and least in October (3.6"); May to September bring 46% of it.

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Atmore, AL
MonthHigh °FLow °FPrecip. in32°F nightNights ≤ 32°FGDD 50°F
Jan61396.096%10123
Feb65434.882%6167
Mar72495.448%2340
Apr79554.80%0506
May86645.10%0770
Jun91716.00%0924
Jul92736.90%01014
Aug92735.60%01001
Sep89685.40%0849
Oct80573.61%<1581
Nov70474.656%3281
Dec63425.487%8162

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Atmore, AL (300 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, Evergreen Middleton Field, AL, 22 miles east of Frisco City, has a last frost 10 days later (March 10), a first frost 10 days earlier (November 17), a season 19 days shorter.

Frost dates for 36460 (Monroeville) →

When it snows in Frisco City, Alabama

Measurable snow is rare here: only 0 of 20 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Claiborne L&D, AL, 13.7 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

Planting calendar for 36445

What to do and when, from the 50% frost dates for Frisco City, Alabama
WhenWhat to do
December 20 – January 3Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out.
January 3 – January 17Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early.
January 31 – February 14Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil.
February 28 onwardTransplant tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, cucumbersThe average last freeze has passed — still watch the actual forecast.
by September 4Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops.
by November 13Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation.
November 27 onwardPlant 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 36445 is 17 miles from Atmore, AL, which stands at 300 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 36502 (Atmore). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 36445 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.

Frost dates across Alabama →

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.

ZIP codes measured at the same station

Other zone 8b places in Alabama