Frost Dates for 36532 — Fairhope, Alabama

Half of springs at Fairhope 2 NE, AL see their last 32°F night by March 10; only one in ten is past it by February 20, and one in ten still has one after March 30. Planting tender crops after March 18 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after March 23 20%, and after March 30 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 17 in half of years, as early as November 2 one year in ten, and holds off past December 6 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 14 days later, around December 1; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is March 16, 14 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 253 days in a typical year, longer than at 80% of the 115 Alabama stations; it reaches 278 days one year in ten and falls short of 227 one year in ten. On average 25 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 18 days longer, to about March 28, and return around November 6. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 95% of winters and 16°F in 33%.

July is the warmest month at Fairhope 2 NE, AL, averaging 91°F by day and 70°F at night; January is the coldest at 62°F and 37°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from December to February (a 90% chance or more). From April to October the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, March still brings one in 71% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 6,165 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 78% of the 115 Alabama stations. 41% of them (2,552) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 941. Precipitation totals 69.5 inches a year, most in July (9.0") and least in October (4.4"); May to September bring 50% of it.

The nearest other station, Fairhope 3 NE, AL, 3 miles north of Fairhope, has a last frost 5 days later (March 15), a first frost 2 days later (November 19), a season 2 days shorter.

Measurable snow is rare here: only 0 of 20 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Fairhope 2 NE, AL, 2.4 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

ZIP 36532 is 2 miles from Fairhope 2 NE, AL, which stands at 23 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 36532 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.