Frost Dates for 36801 — Opelika, Alabama

Half of springs at Opelika, AL see their last 32°F night by March 29; only one in ten is past it by March 6, and one in ten still has one after April 15. Planting tender crops after April 4 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 9 20%, and after April 15 10%. The 17 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 64% of the 115 Alabama stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by November 5 in half of years, as early as October 22 one year in ten, and holds off past November 22 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 13 days later, around November 18; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 1, 14 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 223 days in a typical year, shorter than at 67% of the 115 Alabama stations; it reaches 250 days one year in ten and falls short of 200 one year in ten. On average 60 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 12 days longer, to about April 10, and return around October 27. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 100% of winters and 16°F in 68%.

July is the warmest month at Opelika, AL, averaging 90°F by day and 69°F at night; January is the coldest at 56°F and 33°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from November to March (a 90% chance or more). From May to September the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, April still brings one in 42% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 5,180 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 65% of the 115 Alabama stations. 40% of them (2,054) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 908. Precipitation totals 55.3 inches a year, most in December (5.7") and least in September (3.3"); May to September bring 38% of it.

The nearest other station, Auburn No.2, AL, 6 miles southwest of Opelika, has a last frost 16 days earlier (March 13), a first frost 12 days later (November 17), a season 23 days longer.

Measurable snow is rare here: only 1 of 18 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Opelika, AL, 2.9 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

ZIP 36801 is 3 miles from Opelika, AL, which stands at 640 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 1 other ZIP code shares the station. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 36801 in zone 8a, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged 10 to 15°F (-12.2 to -9.4°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.