USDA Hardiness Zone 9a
Frost Dates for 36544 — Irvington, Alabama
NOAA 1991–2020 normals from Coden, AL (12 ft), 6 miles south.
Updated
In Irvington, the last spring frost (32°F) is around March 13 in half of years and has passed by April 2 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around November 24, as early as November 4 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 255 days (NOAA, Coden, AL).
- Last spring frost
- March 13
- First fall frost
- November 24
- Growing season
- 255 days
- Hardiness zone
- 9a
50% probability
50% probability
freeze-free, 50%
20 to 25°F (-6.7 to -3.9°C) coldest night
- First snow
- Rare
- Last snow
- Rare
- Winters with snow
- 5%
- Snow per year
- 0"
median, 1991–2020
median, 1991–2020
1 of 20 observed
NOAA normal
Frost risk by date in Irvington
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%.
| Low | 90% | 80% | 70% | 60% | 50% | 40% | 30% | 20% | 10% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Mar 4 | Mar 12 | Mar 17 | Mar 21 | Mar 26 | Mar 30 | Apr 2 | Apr 6 | Apr 12 |
| 32°F | Feb 18 | Feb 27 | Mar 3 | Mar 8 | Mar 13 | Mar 17 | Mar 21 | Mar 26 | Apr 2 |
| 28°F99% of yrs | Jan 24 | Feb 3 | Feb 15 | Feb 21 | Feb 27 | Mar 2 | Mar 7 | Mar 12 | Mar 19 |
| 24°F87% of yrs | Jan 1 | Jan 13 | Jan 22 | Jan 31 | Feb 4 | Feb 12 | Feb 20 | Feb 28 | Mar 6 |
| 20°F51% of yrs | Dec 25 | Jan 2 | Jan 9 | Jan 17 | Jan 23 | Jan 31 | Feb 3 | Feb 11 | Feb 26 |
| 16°F18% of yrs | too rare for a date | ||||||||
| Low | 10% | 20% | 30% | 40% | 50% | 60% | 70% | 80% | 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Oct 28 | Nov 1 | Nov 4 | Nov 8 | Nov 11 | Nov 15 | Nov 19 | Nov 24 | Dec 1 |
| 32°F | Nov 4 | Nov 11 | Nov 15 | Nov 20 | Nov 24 | Nov 28 | Dec 3 | Dec 7 | Dec 22 |
| 28°F99% of yrs | Nov 15 | Nov 22 | Nov 29 | Dec 4 | Dec 8 | Dec 15 | Dec 25 | Jan 3 | Jan 14 |
| 24°F87% of yrs | Dec 1 | Dec 8 | Dec 16 | Dec 25 | Jan 1 | Jan 5 | Jan 11 | Jan 19 | Feb 4 |
| 20°F51% of yrs | Dec 11 | Dec 23 | Dec 31 | Jan 2 | Jan 6 | Jan 14 | Jan 20 | Feb 1 | Feb 10 |
| 16°F18% of yrs | too rare for a date | ||||||||
Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at Coden, 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 36544 →Compare Irvington with another place →
Weather by month in Irvington
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.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | Precip. in | 32°F night | Nights ≤ 32°F | GDD 50°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 60 | 40 | 5.6 | 97% | 10 | 116 |
| Feb | 63 | 43 | 5.1 | 89% | 6 | 143 |
| Mar | 69 | 48 | 5.1 | 71% | 2 | 286 |
| Apr | 76 | 55 | 5.3 | 12% | <1 | 462 |
| May | 82 | 63 | 5.7 | 0% | 0 | 696 |
| Jun | 86 | 70 | 6.7 | 0% | 0 | 843 |
| Jul | 88 | 73 | 8.2 | 0% | 0 | 942 |
| Aug | 88 | 72 | 7.5 | 0% | 0 | 941 |
| Sep | 86 | 69 | 6.0 | 0% | 0 | 811 |
| Oct | 78 | 58 | 4.4 | 4% | 0 | 562 |
| Nov | 69 | 47 | 4.0 | 61% | 3 | 265 |
| Dec | 62 | 42 | 5.4 | 87% | 8 | 152 |
Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Coden, AL (12 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, Mobile, AL, 14 miles north of Irvington and 196 feet higher, has a last frost 10 days earlier (March 3), a first frost 1 day later (November 25), a season 13 days longer.
When it snows in Irvington, Alabama
Measurable snow is rare here: only 1 of 20 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Coden, AL, 6.4 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.
Planting calendar for 36544
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| January 2 – January 16 | Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out. |
| January 16 – January 30 | Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early. |
| February 13 – February 27 | Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil. |
| March 13 onward | Transplant tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, cucumbersThe average last freeze has passed — still watch the actual forecast. |
| by September 1 | Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops. |
| by November 10 | Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation. |
| November 24 onward | Plant 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 36544 is 6 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 36544 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.
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.