U.S. Frost Dates by Weather Station

NOAA station USW00013895 · Alabama

Frost Dates for Montgomery, AL

NOAA weather station Montgomery Airport (USW00013895), Alabama · elevation 202 ft (62 m) · hardiness zone 8b*

  • Lower-risk planting dateafter March 31only 1 spring in 10 still has a frost later
  • Typical last frostMarch 1350% chance of a frost after it
  • Typical first fall frostNovember 1350% chance of a frost before it
  • Frost-free season244 daystypical year, 32°F
  • Hardiness zone8bcalculated*

The year at a glance

Frost season at Montgomery, ALSpring: a frost after February 20 in 9 years out of 10, after March 13 in half of the years, after March 31 in 1 year out of 10. Fall: the first frost comes before October 31 in 1 year out of 10, before November 13 in half of the years, before December 1 in 9 years out of 10. Typical frost-free season: 244 days.JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecLast frost ~Mar 13First frost ~Nov 13Frost season at Montgomery, ALSpring: a frost after February 20 in 9 years out of 10, after March 13 in half of the years, after March 31 in 1 year out of 10. Fall: the first frost comes before October 31 in 1 year out of 10, before November 13 in half of the years, before December 1 in 9 years out of 10. Typical frost-free season: 244 days.JFMAMJJASONDLast frost ~Mar 13First frost ~Nov 13
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 25 years of NOAA records (1991–2020 normals)
ChanceLast frost in spring afterFirst frost in fall before
10% (unlikely)March 31October 31
50% (typical)March 13November 13
90% (likely)February 20December 1
Frost-free season (32°F, 50% chance)
244 days
Hard frost (28°F), last in spring, 50% chance after
February 27
Hard frost (28°F), first in fall, 50% chance before
November 25

The last 15 years (2006–2020 normals)

Typical last frost March 8 (5 days earlier than the 30-year normal), typical first fall frost November 12 (1 day earlier). Frost-free season 248 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 Montgomery: chance of a frost after this dateSpring, chance of a frost after the date: 10% March 31, 20% March 25, 30% March 20, 40% March 16, 50% March 13, 60% March 8, 70% March 4, 80% February 28, 90% February 20. Observed last spring frost in recent years: 2021 February 21, 2022 March 14, 2023 March 21, 2024 March 19, 2025 March 21, 2026 March 18.Spring: last frostChance of a frost after this date10%50%90%Mar 1Apr 1Mar 31Mar 13Feb 202021: February 212022: March 142023: March 212024: March 192025: March 212026: March 18Fall at Montgomery: chance of a frost before this dateFall, chance of a frost before the date: 10% October 31, 20% November 3, 30% November 6, 40% November 10, 50% November 13, 60% November 16, 70% November 19, 80% November 23, 90% December 1. Observed first fall frost in recent years: 2021 November 14, 2022 October 19, 2023 November 2, 2024 November 30, 2025 November 10.Fall: first frostChance of a frost before this date10%50%90%Nov 1Dec 1Oct 31Nov 13Dec 12021: November 142022: October 192023: November 22024: November 302025: November 10
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 21November 14
2022March 14October 19
2023March 21November 2
2024March 19November 30
2025March 21November 10
2026March 18season not over yet

What these dates mean

Setting out tender crops on the early spring date, February 20, carries a 90% chance of a frost and is a gamble for Montgomery gardeners. The median light-frost date is March 13, meaning a light frost is as likely as not on that day, while the median hard-frost date is February 27, indicating an equal chance of a 28°F frost. In the fall the median light-frost date is November 13 and the median hard-frost date is November 25.

For a cautious planting schedule Montgomery gardeners would wait until the 10% light-frost date of March 31 to set out tender crops in spring, and aim to finish harvesting tender crops by the 10% light-frost date of October 31 in fall. Counting on tender crops as late as December 1 would involve a 90% chance of frost.

A hard frost at 28°F can damage plant tissue that would survive a light frost at 32°F, making the hard-frost dates especially important.

How to read the probabilities

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

  • Spring: "10% after March 31" 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 31" 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 Montgomery, ALNumbered nearest stations: 1 — Greenville, AL — 37 mi; 2 — Clanton, AL — 37 mi; 3 — Troy, AL — 43 mi; 4 — Marion Junction, AL — 50 mi; 5 — Alexander City, AL — 52 mi.AL25 mi · 40 km1. Greenville, AL — 37 mi12. Clanton, AL — 37 mi23. Troy, AL — 43 mi34. Marion Junction, AL — 50 mi45. Alexander City, AL — 52 mi5
  1. Greenville, AL 37 mi (60 km)
  2. Clanton, AL 37 mi (60 km)
  3. Troy, AL 43 mi (68 km)
  4. Marion Junction, AL 50 mi (80 km)
  5. Alexander City, AL 52 mi (84 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: 32.2997, -86.4075.