Frost dates for Tuscaloosa Muni Airport, AL
At Tuscaloosa Muni Airport, the median last spring frost (32°F) is Mar 16 and the median first fall frost is Nov 12, for a typical growing season of 242 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until Apr 3. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zone 8b.
- Mar 16Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- Apr 3Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Nov 12First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 242 daysGrowing season (median)between 32°F freezes
Last spring frost dates
The chance that the temperature drops to the threshold after each date.
| Temperature | 90% chance later | 50% chance later | 10% chance later |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Mar 13 | Apr 1 | Apr 18 |
| 32°F | Feb 24 | Mar 16 | Apr 3 |
| 28°F | Feb 5 | Mar 1 | Mar 20 |
| 24°F | Jan 15 | Feb 12 | Mar 7 |
First fall frost dates
The chance that the temperature has dropped to the threshold by each date.
| Temperature | 10% chance by | 50% chance by | 90% chance by |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Oct 20 | Nov 1 | Nov 17 |
| 32°F | Oct 30 | Nov 12 | Dec 1 |
| 28°F | Nov 8 | Nov 27 | Dec 24 |
| 24°F | Nov 20 | Dec 18 | Jan 17 |
Growing season length
Days between the last spring and first fall freeze, as the length reached in 9, 5 and 1 out of 10 years.
| Temperature | 9 in 10 years at least | 5 in 10 years at least | 1 in 10 years at least |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | 194 days | 215 days | 238 days |
| 32°F | 217 days | 242 days | 267 days |
| 28°F | 243 days | 270 days | 303 days |
| 24°F | 273 days | 306 days | 338 days |
Chance of a freeze in any year
| Temperature | Chance per year |
|---|---|
| 36°F | 100% |
| 32°F | 100% |
| 28°F | 100% |
| 24°F | 98% |
Closest ZIP codes (each is closer to another station)
| ZIP | Hardiness zone | Avg. extreme low | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 35401 | 8b | 15 to 20°F | 4 km |
| 35476 | 8b | 15 to 20°F | 4 km |
| 35487 | 8b | 15 to 20°F | 6 km |
| 35473 | 8b | 15 to 20°F | 7 km |
| 35452 | 8b | 15 to 20°F | 10 km |
| 35405 | 8b | 15 to 20°F | 12 km |
| 35404 | 8b | 15 to 20°F | 12 km |
| 35446 | 8b | 15 to 20°F | 12 km |
Not the official USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Zones shown here are the values published in the USDA-ARS / Oregon State University PRISM Group 2023 ZIP code tables, shown unaltered. For the official interactive map, visit planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.
About this station
- NOAA station ID USW00093806, at 33.2119, -87.6161, elevation 46 m (150 ft).
- Data quality: Representative (10+ years), 23 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 48.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Tuscaloosa Acfd (0 km)
- Northport 2 S (2 km)
- Bankhead L&d (36 km)
- Aliceville (51 km)
- Centreville 6 SW (52 km)
- Greensboro 2 WNW (55 km)
- Greensboro (58 km)
- Fayette (58 km)
Sources
- NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, annual/seasonal normals by station (version 1.0.1), file dated June 27, 2023; documentation.
- USDA Agricultural Research Service and PRISM Group, Oregon State University, 2023 Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP code tables (CONUS, Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico), files dated November 17, 2023. Data © PRISM Group, Oregon State University, https://prism.oregonstate.edu, accessed November 1, 2026. Official map: planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Gazetteer ZIP Code Tabulation Areas file, dated August 30, 2024 (ZIP centroids used to find the nearest station).
Freeze dates are 30-year probabilities, not forecasts. Check your local forecast before planting tender plants.