Frost Dates for 38469 — Loretto, Tennessee

Half of springs at Lexington, AL see their last 32°F night by March 29; only one in ten is past it by March 10, and one in ten still has one after April 15. Planting tender crops after April 5 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 34% of the 144 Tennessee stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by November 4 in half of years, as early as October 21 one year in ten, and holds off past November 23 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 12 days later, around November 16; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 3, 12 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 219 days in a typical year, longer than at 88% of the 144 Tennessee stations; it reaches 245 days one year in ten and falls short of 197 one year in ten. On average 70 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 26. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 100% of winters and 16°F in 89%.

July is the warmest month at Lexington, AL, averaging 90°F by day and 69°F at night; January is the coldest at 51°F and 31°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 5,031 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 91% of the 144 Tennessee stations. 39% of them (1,981) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 913. Precipitation totals 58.6 inches a year, most in January (6.0") and least in October (3.6"); May to September bring 38% of it.

The nearest other station, Lawrenceburg Filt Plt, TN, 12 miles north of Loretto, has a last frost 10 days later (April 8), a first frost 4 days earlier (October 31), a season 15 days shorter.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Loretto usually arrives around January 16, and the last of the season around February 14. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Lawrenceburg Filt Plt, TN, 12.5 miles away: half of years saw snow earlier, half later. Snow fell in 71% of those winters. The last 32°F night of spring typically comes 43 days after the last snow.

ZIP 38469 is 8 miles from Lexington, AL, which stands at 760 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 4 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 35645 (Killen). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 38469 in zone 7b, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged 5 to 10°F (-15.0 to -12.2°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.