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USDA Hardiness Zone 8b

Frost Dates for 36832 — Auburn, Alabama

NOAA 1991–2020 normals from Auburn No.2, AL (545 ft), 4 miles east.

Updated

In Auburn, the last spring frost (32°F) is around March 13 in half of years and has passed by April 3 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around November 17, as early as November 1 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 246 days (NOAA, Auburn No.2, AL).

Last spring frost
March 13

50% probability

First fall frost
November 17

50% probability

Growing season
246 days

freeze-free, 50%

Hardiness zone
8b

15 to 20°F (-9.4 to -6.7°C) coldest night

First snow
Rare

median, 1991–2020

Last snow
Rare

median, 1991–2020

Winters with snow
6%

1 of 18 observed

Snow per year
0"

NOAA normal

Frost risk by date in Auburn

Half of springs at Auburn No.2, AL see their last 32°F night by March 13; only one in ten is past it by February 21, and one in ten still has one after April 3. Planting tender crops after March 21 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after March 27 20%, and after April 3 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 17 in half of years, as early as November 1 one year in ten, and holds off past December 4 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 19, 15 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 246 days in a typical year, longer than at 72% of the 115 Alabama stations; it reaches 275 days one year in ten and falls short of 222 one year in ten. On average 44 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 29, and return around November 7. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 98% of winters and 16°F in 46%.

Spring: the chance of another night this cold after the date
Low90%80%70%60%50%40%30%20%10%
36°FMar 8Mar 15Mar 20Mar 25Mar 29Apr 2Apr 5Apr 10Apr 16
32°FFeb 21Feb 28Mar 5Mar 10Mar 13Mar 17Mar 21Mar 27Apr 3
28°FFeb 1Feb 11Feb 18Feb 23Feb 28Mar 4Mar 8Mar 13Mar 19
24°F98% of yrsJan 10Jan 23Jan 31Feb 5Feb 11Feb 18Feb 24Mar 1Mar 10
20°F80% of yrsDec 31Jan 7Jan 16Jan 24Jan 30Feb 3Feb 9Feb 17Feb 28
16°F46% of yrstoo rare for a date
Fall: the chance the first night this cold has come by the date
Low10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%
36°FOct 26Oct 31Nov 2Nov 4Nov 7Nov 10Nov 13Nov 17Nov 21
32°FNov 1Nov 6Nov 10Nov 13Nov 17Nov 20Nov 24Nov 29Dec 4
28°FNov 11Nov 17Nov 23Nov 26Dec 1Dec 4Dec 9Dec 19Dec 29
24°F98% of yrsNov 23Dec 1Dec 6Dec 11Dec 19Dec 26Jan 1Jan 7Jan 18
20°F80% of yrsDec 10Dec 18Dec 25Jan 1Jan 3Jan 9Jan 16Jan 23Feb 5
16°F46% of yrstoo rare for a date

Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at Auburn No.2, 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 36832 →Compare Auburn with another place →

Weather by month in Auburn

July is the warmest month at Auburn No.2, AL, averaging 89°F by day and 71°F at night; January is the coldest at 56°F and 35°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from December to February (a 90% chance or more). From May to October the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, March still brings one in 76% of years and April still brings one in 14% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 5,511 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 52% of the 115 Alabama stations. 41% of them (2,240) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 930. Precipitation totals 56.4 inches a year, most in March (5.7") and least in October (3.4"); May to September bring 40% of it.

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Auburn No.2, AL
MonthHigh °FLow °FPrecip. in32°F nightNights ≤ 32°FGDD 50°F
Jan56355.3100%1564
Feb61395.196%995
Mar68455.776%3231
Apr75514.814%<1393
May81604.00%0643
Jun87685.70%0814
Jul89714.80%0930
Aug88714.30%0910
Sep84663.50%0735
Oct75543.47%<1451
Nov65434.282%4166
Dec58385.697%1279

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Auburn No.2, AL (545 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, Opelika, AL, 7 miles northeast of Auburn, has a last frost 16 days later (March 29), a first frost 12 days earlier (November 5), a season 23 days shorter.

Frost dates for 36801 (Opelika) →

When it snows in Auburn, Alabama

Measurable snow is rare here: only 1 of 18 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Opelika, AL, 7.1 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

Planting calendar for 36832

What to do and when, from the 50% frost dates for Auburn, Alabama
WhenWhat to do
January 2 – January 16Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out.
January 16 – January 30Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early.
February 13 – February 27Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil.
March 13 onwardTransplant tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, cucumbersThe average last freeze has passed — still watch the actual forecast.
by August 25Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops.
by November 3Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation.
November 17 onwardPlant 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 36832 is 4 miles from Auburn No.2, AL, which stands at 545 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 36830 (Auburn). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 36832 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.

Frost dates across Alabama →

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.

ZIP codes measured at the same station

Other zone 8b places in Alabama