U.S. Frost Dates by Weather Station

NOAA station USC00014193 · Alabama

Frost Dates for Jackson, AL

NOAA weather station Jackson (USC00014193), Alabama · elevation 220 ft (67 m) · hardiness zone 8b*

  • Lower-risk planting dateafter April 6only 1 spring in 10 still has a frost later
  • Typical last frostMarch 1850% chance of a frost after it
  • Typical first fall frostNovember 1250% chance of a frost before it
  • Frost-free season239 daystypical year, 32°F
  • Hardiness zone8bcalculated*

The year at a glance

Frost season at Jackson, ALSpring: a frost after February 25 in 9 years out of 10, after March 18 in half of the years, after April 6 in 1 year out of 10. Fall: the first frost comes before October 29 in 1 year out of 10, before November 12 in half of the years, before December 3 in 9 years out of 10. Typical frost-free season: 239 days.JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecLast frost ~Mar 18First frost ~Nov 12Frost season at Jackson, ALSpring: a frost after February 25 in 9 years out of 10, after March 18 in half of the years, after April 6 in 1 year out of 10. Fall: the first frost comes before October 29 in 1 year out of 10, before November 12 in half of the years, before December 3 in 9 years out of 10. Typical frost-free season: 239 days.JFMAMJJASONDLast frost ~Mar 18First frost ~Nov 12
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.

Frost dates (32°F)

Probability of frost, based on 29 years of NOAA records (1991–2020 normals)
ChanceLast frost in spring afterFirst frost in fall before
10% (unlikely)April 6October 29
50% (typical)March 18November 12
90% (likely)February 25December 3
Frost-free season (32°F, 50% chance)
239 days
Hard frost (28°F), last in spring, 50% chance after
March 1
Hard frost (28°F), first in fall, 50% chance before
November 25

The last 15 years (2006–2020 normals)

Typical last frost March 12 (6 days earlier than the 30-year normal), typical first fall frost November 12. Frost-free season 244 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 Jackson: chance of a frost after this dateSpring, chance of a frost after the date: 10% April 6, 20% March 31, 30% March 26, 40% March 22, 50% March 18, 60% March 13, 70% March 9, 80% March 2, 90% February 25. Observed last spring frost in recent years: 2021 February 24, 2022 March 15, 2023 March 21, 2024 March 20, 2025 March 22, 2026 March 18.Spring: last frostChance of a frost after this date10%50%90%Mar 1Apr 1Apr 6Mar 18Feb 252021: February 242022: March 152023: March 212024: March 202025: March 222026: March 18Fall at Jackson: chance of a frost before this dateFall, chance of a frost before the date: 10% October 29, 20% November 1, 30% November 5, 40% November 8, 50% November 12, 60% November 15, 70% November 20, 80% November 26, 90% December 3. Observed first fall frost in recent years: 2021 November 14, 2022 October 19, 2023 November 2, 2024 November 30, 2025 November 11.Fall: first frostChance of a frost before this date10%50%90%Nov 1Dec 1Oct 29Nov 12Dec 32021: November 142022: October 192023: 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
2021February 24November 14
2022March 15October 19
2023March 21November 2
2024March 20November 30
2025March 22November 11
2026March 18season not over yet

What these dates mean

Planting tender crops on February 25 in Jackson carries a 90 % chance that a light frost will occur later, making that early spring date a gamble for growers. The cautious spring date for tender crops is April 6, when only a 10 % chance of a later frost remains.

For a gardener, the 50 % light-frost date is March 18, meaning there is a 50 % chance of a frost later than this date, while the 50 % hard-frost date is March 1, indicating a 50 % chance of a hard frost later than that point. In the fall, the cautious date to finish harvesting tender crops is October 29 (10 % chance of an earlier frost), and the 50 % light-frost date is November 12, giving a 50 % chance of a frost earlier than that day.

A hard frost at 28 °F can damage tender crops more severely than a light frost at 32 °F.

How to read the probabilities

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

  • Spring: "10% after April 6" 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 29" 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 Jackson, ALNumbered nearest stations: 1 — Atmore, AL — 37 mi; 2 — Bay Minette, AL — 45 mi; 3 — Evergreen, AL — 58 mi; 4 — Brewton, AL — 58 mi; 5 — Mobile, AL — 61 mi.FLMS25 mi · 40 km1. Atmore, AL — 37 mi12. Bay Minette, AL — 45 mi23. Evergreen, AL — 58 mi34. Brewton, AL — 58 mi45. Mobile, AL — 61 mi5
  1. Atmore, AL 37 mi (60 km)
  2. Bay Minette, AL 45 mi (73 km)
  3. Evergreen, AL 58 mi (93 km)
  4. Brewton, AL 58 mi (94 km)
  5. Mobile, AL 61 mi (99 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: 31.5253, -87.9278.