Frost Dates for 36904 — Butler, Alabama

Half of springs at P Harrison Archusa, MS see their last 32°F night by March 14; only one in ten is past it by February 21, and one in ten still has one after April 1. Planting tender crops after March 22 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after March 26 20%, and after April 1 10%. The 18 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 46% of the 116 Alabama stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by November 16 in half of years, as early as October 31 one year in ten, and holds off past December 3 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 13 days later, around November 29; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is March 20, 12 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 247 days in a typical year, longer than at 72% of the 116 Alabama stations; it reaches 277 days one year in ten and falls short of 221 one year in ten. On average 46 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 15 days longer, to about March 29, and return around November 3. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 98% of winters and 16°F in 46%.

July is the warmest month at P Harrison Archusa, MS, averaging 92°F by day and 73°F at night; January is the coldest at 57°F and 36°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from December to February (a 90% chance or more). From May to September the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, March still brings one in 75% of years and April still brings one in 11% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 6,042 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 72% of the 116 Alabama stations. 42% of them (2,513) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 997. Precipitation totals 61.5 inches a year, most in March (6.4") and least in October (3.8"); May to September bring 40% of it.

The nearest other station, Quitman 2 NNE, MS, 29 miles west of Butler, has a last frost 4 days later (March 18), a first frost 6 days earlier (November 10), a season 11 days shorter.

Measurable snow is rare here: only 4 of 27 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Crandall 8 N, MS, 17.8 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

ZIP 36904 is 29 miles from P Harrison Archusa, MS, which stands at 216 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. That is farther than 25 miles, so local frost can differ noticeably from these figures. 2 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 39355 (Quitman). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 36904 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.