Frost Dates
Frost Dates · Alabama

Frost dates for Tuscaloosa, Alabama

Alabama · first & last freeze, from NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals

Typical last spring freeze (32°F)
March 18
median date, 1991–2020
Typical first fall freeze (32°F)
November 10
median date, 1991–2020
Typical frost-free season
237 days
between the median dates

In a typical year, the last spring freeze around Tuscaloosa comes near March 18 and the first fall freeze near November 10. One year in ten, a freeze still arrives after April 4 in spring — and one year in ten, the first fall freeze has already landed by October 29. NCEI's own growing-season statistic (days between freezes, percentiled per year) puts the median at 239 days.

JFMAMJJASONDMarch 18November 10
The year at a glance: blue bands span the 9-in-10 to 1-in-10 range where the last spring / first fall 32°F freeze lands; the green band is the typical frost-free window between the median dates. Measured at Northport 2 S, AL (USW00073801), 4.0 mi from the city's census reference point, elev. 150 ft. NOAA/NCEI 1991–2020 normals.

Freeze-date probabilities, three thresholds

ThresholdLast spring — 9 in 10 years past byLast spring — typical (median)Last spring — 1 in 10 years later thanFirst fall — 1 in 10 years byFirst fall — typical (median)First fall — 9 in 10 years by
36°F — near-freezing (frost can occur)March 14April 1April 17October 20November 1November 15
32°F — freezingFebruary 26March 18April 4October 29November 10November 29
28°F — hard freezeFebruary 6March 3March 22November 6November 25December 22

Measured at Northport 2 S, AL (USW00073801), 4.0 mi from the city's census reference point, elev. 150 ft. NOAA/NCEI 1991–2020 normals. Read each date column as odds over the 30-year record — e.g. "9 in 10 years past by" means only one spring in ten saw a later freeze than that date.

Frost-free windows (computed)

Window (32°F ends)OpensClosesLength
Cautious (1-in-10 freeze risk at each end)April 4October 29208 days
Typical (median freeze dates)March 18November 10237 days
Gambler's (9-in-10 freeze risk at each end)February 26November 29276 days

Pure arithmetic on the freeze-date percentiles above — the "cautious" window opens on the date only 1 year in 10 still sees a later spring freeze, and closes on the date by which only 1 year in 10 has already frozen.

About this city's numbers

More Alabama cities

Huntsville · Mobile · Birmingham · Montgomery · Hoover · all of Alabama →