U.S. Frost Dates by Weather Station

NOAA station USC00013160 · Alabama

Frost Dates for Gainesville Lock, AL

NOAA weather station Gainesville Lock (USC00013160), Alabama · elevation 125 ft (38 m) · hardiness zone 8b*

  • Lower-risk planting dateafter April 8only 1 spring in 10 still has a frost later
  • Typical last frostMarch 1950% chance of a frost after it
  • Typical first fall frostNovember 850% chance of a frost before it
  • Frost-free season239 daystypical year, 32°F
  • Hardiness zone8bcalculated*

The year at a glance

Frost season at Gainesville Lock, ALSpring: a frost after February 26 in 9 years out of 10, after March 19 in half of the years, after April 8 in 1 year out of 10. Fall: the first frost comes before October 28 in 1 year out of 10, before November 8 in half of the years, before November 29 in 9 years out of 10. Typical frost-free season: 239 days.JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecLast frost ~Mar 19First frost ~Nov 8Frost season at Gainesville Lock, ALSpring: a frost after February 26 in 9 years out of 10, after March 19 in half of the years, after April 8 in 1 year out of 10. Fall: the first frost comes before October 28 in 1 year out of 10, before November 8 in half of the years, before November 29 in 9 years out of 10. Typical frost-free season: 239 days.JFMAMJJASONDLast frost ~Mar 19First frost ~Nov 8
frost likely chance fading 90% → 10% frost-free in a typical yearThe year at a glance. Blue: frost is likely; the gradient fades as the chance drops from 90% to 10%; green: the frost-free part of a typical year.Today

Frost dates (32°F)

Probability of frost, based on 30 years of NOAA records (1991–2020 normals)
ChanceLast frost in spring afterFirst frost in fall before
10% (unlikely)April 8October 28
50% (typical)March 19November 8
90% (likely)February 26November 29
Frost-free season (32°F, 50% chance)
239 days
Hard frost (28°F), last in spring, 50% chance after
March 2
Hard frost (28°F), first in fall, 50% chance before
November 22

The last 15 years (2006–2020 normals)

Typical last frost March 17 (2 days earlier than the 30-year normal), typical first fall frost November 8. Frost-free season 235 days.

A shorter, more recent NOAA period. The 30-year normals above remain the main reference: 15 years carry more year-to-year noise.

Add these dates to your calendar Yearly reminders for the typical last frost, the lower-risk planting date and the typical first fall frost (.ics).

How the chance of frost changes with the date

Spring at Gainesville Lock: chance of a frost after this dateSpring, chance of a frost after the date: 10% April 8, 20% March 31, 30% March 27, 40% March 24, 50% March 19, 60% March 15, 70% March 11, 80% March 4, 90% February 26. Observed last spring frost in recent years: 2022 March 15, 2023 March 22, 2024 March 20, 2025 March 22, 2026 March 18.Spring: last frostChance of a frost after this date10%50%90%Mar 1Apr 1Apr 8Mar 19Feb 262022: March 152023: March 222024: March 202025: March 222026: March 18Fall at Gainesville Lock: chance of a frost before this dateFall, chance of a frost before the date: 10% October 28, 20% November 1, 30% November 3, 40% November 6, 50% November 8, 60% November 12, 70% November 16, 80% November 21, 90% November 29. Observed first fall frost in recent years: 2023 November 2, 2024 November 30, 2025 November 11.Fall: first frostChance of a frost before this date10%50%90%Nov 1Dec 1Oct 28Nov 8Nov 292023: November 22024: November 302025: November 11
Two charts, because spring and fall answer different questions: in spring, the chance that a frost still comes after a date; in fall, the chance that the first frost has already come before it. NOAA publishes these odds from 10% to 90%, so the lines stop there. ◆ marks the actual date in each recent year.

What actually happened in recent years

Observed dates of the last spring and first fall frost (32°F) at this station; ◆ marks them on the charts above
YearLast spring frostFirst fall frost
2021incomplete recordincomplete record
2022March 15incomplete record
2023March 22November 2
2024March 20November 30
2025March 22November 11
2026March 18season not over yet

What these dates mean

April 8 is the cautious spring light-frost date, carrying a 10 % chance of a frost later than this day; it gives a gardener enough confidence to set out tender crops.

The 50% date is March 19, indicating a 50 % chance of a frost later than this date, while the 50% date is November 8, indicating a 50 % chance of a frost earlier than this date. October 28 is the cautious fall light-frost date, with a 10 % chance of a frost earlier than this day, allowing a gardener to finish harvesting tender crops. The median hard-frost dates are March 2 and November 22. A hard frost at 28 °F can damage plant tissue that would survive a light frost at 32 °F. The record spans 30 years, giving confidence in these probabilities. The interval between the two 32°F 50% dates is 239 days, showing the length of the frost-free season.

How to read the probabilities

The dates are probabilities from 30 years of weather, not a forecast for this year.

  • Spring: "10% after April 8" means that in about one spring out of ten a frost still happens after that date. The 90% date is the earliest: a frost after it happens in most years.
  • Fall: "10% before October 28" means that in about one fall out of ten the first frost arrives before that date.
  • 50% is the typical date: half of the years are earlier, half are later.
  • A light frost (32°F) damages tender plants; a hard frost (28°F) also stops most hardy vegetables.

Nearby weather stations

Map of weather stations near Gainesville Lock, ALNumbered nearest stations: 1 — near Meridian, MS — 50 mi; 2 — near Starkville, MS — 58 mi; 3 — Philadelphia, MS — 58 mi; 4 — Marion Junction, AL — 58 mi; 5 — Bessemer, AL — 76 mi.ALMS25 mi · 40 km1. near Meridian, MS — 50 mi12. near Starkville, MS — 58 mi23. Philadelphia, MS — 58 mi34. Marion Junction, AL — 58 mi45. Bessemer, AL — 76 mi5
  1. near Meridian, MS 50 mi (80 km)
  2. near Starkville, MS 58 mi (93 km)
  3. Philadelphia, MS 58 mi (93 km)
  4. Marion Junction, AL 58 mi (94 km)
  5. Bessemer, AL 76 mi (122 km)

Sources

* Hardiness zone 8b: zone derived from PRISM 2023 grid at the station location (not the official USDA map). Source data: PRISM Group, Oregon State University.

Station coordinates: 32.8347, -88.1342.