Frost Dates for 36535 — Foley, Alabama

Half of springs at Robertsdale, AL see their last 32°F night by March 5; only one in ten is past it by February 12, and one in ten still has one after March 26. Planting tender crops after March 14 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after March 19 20%, and after March 26 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 23 in half of years, as early as November 5 one year in ten, and holds off past December 15 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 16 days later, around December 9; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is March 14, 12 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 264 days in a typical year, longer than at 90% of the 115 Alabama stations; it reaches 298 days one year in ten and falls short of 236 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 16 days longer, to about March 21, and return around November 12. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 88% of winters and 16°F in 19%.

July is the warmest month at Robertsdale, AL, averaging 90°F by day and 72°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 90% of years and March still brings one in 60% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 6,365 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 84% of the 115 Alabama stations. 42% of them (2,657) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 961. Precipitation totals 69.0 inches a year, most in July (9.1") and least in October (4.2"); May to September bring 49% of it.

The nearest other station, Fairhope 3 NE, AL, 15 miles northwest of Foley, has a last frost 10 days later (March 15), a first frost 4 days earlier (November 19), a season 13 days shorter.

Measurable snow is rare here: only 2 of 20 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Robertsdale, AL, 11.6 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

ZIP 36535 is 12 miles from Robertsdale, AL, which stands at 161 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 4 other ZIP codes share the station. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 36535 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.