Frost Dates for 36525 — ZIP 36525

Half of springs at Bay Minette, AL see their last 32°F night by February 28; only one in ten is past it by February 3, 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 measure how much the end of the frost season moves from year to year, so a fixed calendar date is a gamble here.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by November 25 in half of years, as early as November 7 one year in ten, and holds off past December 20 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 17 days later, around December 12; 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 272 days in a typical year; it reaches 306 days one year in ten and falls short of 244 one year in ten. On average 20 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 15 days longer, to about March 15, and return around November 14. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 80% of winters and 16°F in 15%.

July is the warmest month at Bay Minette, AL, averaging 90°F by day and 74°F at night; January is the coldest at 61°F and 41°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 85% of years and March still brings one in 48% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 6,695 growing degree days a year (base 50°F). 42% of them (2,835) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 984. Precipitation totals 71.9 inches a year, most in July (8.2") and least in October (3.9"); May to September bring 50% of it.

The nearest other station, Mobile Dwtn Airport, AL, 18 miles south of ZIP 36525 and 245 feet lower, has a last frost 7 days earlier (February 21), a first frost 11 days later (December 6), a season 20 days longer.

Measurable snow is rare here: only 2 of 20 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Bay Minette, AL, 14.4 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

ZIP 36525 is 14 miles from Bay Minette, AL, which stands at 271 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 3 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 36507 (Bay Minette). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 36525 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.