Frost Dates for 36523 — Coden, Alabama

Half of springs at Coden, AL see their last 32°F night by March 13; only one in ten is past it by February 18, and one in ten still has one after April 2. Planting tender crops after March 21 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after March 26 20%, and after April 2 10%. The 20 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 70% of the 115 Alabama stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by November 24 in half of years, as early as November 4 one year in ten, and holds off past December 22 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 14 days later, around December 8; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is March 19, 14 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 255 days in a typical year, longer than at 83% of the 115 Alabama stations; it reaches 286 days one year in ten and falls short of 230 one year in ten. On average 28 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 March 26, and return around November 11. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 87% of winters and 16°F in 18%.

July is the warmest month at Coden, AL, averaging 88°F by day and 73°F at night; January is the coldest at 60°F and 40°F. A freezing night is all but certain in January (a 90% chance or more). From May to October the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, February still brings one in 89% of years and March still brings one in 71% of years and April still brings one in 12% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 6,220 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 80% of the 115 Alabama stations. 41% of them (2,546) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 942. Precipitation totals 69.0 inches a year, most in July (8.2") and least in November (4.0"); May to September bring 49% of it.

The nearest other station, Dauphin Is #2, AL, 11 miles southeast of Coden, has a last frost 41 days earlier (January 31), a first frost 43 days later (January 6), a season 85 days longer.

Measurable snow is rare here: only 1 of 20 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Coden, AL, 2.5 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

ZIP 36523 is 3 miles from Coden, AL, which stands at 12 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 2 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 36541 (Grand Bay). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 36523 in zone 9a, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged 20 to 25°F (-6.7 to -3.9°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.