Alabama frost dates

Average last spring and first fall frost dates for Alabama’s largest cities, with each city’s USDA hardiness zone.

Reviewed October 2026

Among Alabama’s 20 largest cities, the average last spring frost ranges from Feb 21 in Mobile to Mar 29 in Opelika. Elevation, distance from the coast and city heat all shift the date, so use your own ZIP code below for the closest match.

City	Average last spring frost	Average first fall frost	Frost-free days	Hardiness zone	Weather station used
Huntsville	Mar 24	Nov 8	229	8a	Huntsville Intl Airport, AL, 7 mi
Mobile	Feb 21	Dec 6	288	9a	Mobile Dwtn Airport, AL, 4 mi
Birmingham	Mar 21	Nov 11	235	8a–8b	Birmingham Airport, AL, 4 mi
Montgomery	Mar 4	Nov 18	259	8b	Montgomery 6Sw, AL, 7 mi
Tuscaloosa	Mar 18	Nov 10	237	8b	Northport 2 S, AL, 4 mi
Hoover	Mar 19	Nov 8	234	8a–8b	Helena, AL, 7 mi
Auburn	Mar 13	Nov 17	249	8b	Auburn No.2, AL, 2 mi
Dothan	Mar 1	Nov 24	268	9a	Dothan Rgnl Airport, AL, 7 mi
Madison	Mar 24	Nov 8	229	8a	Huntsville Intl Airport, AL, 5 mi
Decatur	Mar 26	Nov 7	226	8a	Decatur 4Se, AL, 3 mi
Florence	Mar 27	Nov 3	221	8a	Muscle Shoals 2 N, AL, 4 mi
Prattville	Mar 13	Nov 13	245	8b	Montgomery Airport, AL, 11 mi
Phenix City	Mar 5	Nov 23	263	8b	Columbus Metro Airport, GA, 7 mi
Vestavia Hills	Mar 21	Nov 11	235	8a–8b	Birmingham Airport, AL, 7 mi
Opelika	Mar 29	Nov 5	221	8a	Opelika, AL, 4 mi
Alabaster	Mar 12	Nov 16	249	8a–8b	Alabaster Shelby Co Airport, AL, 3 mi
Gadsden	Mar 19	Nov 13	239	8a	Gadsden, AL, 2 mi
Athens	Mar 20	Nov 12	237	8a	Athens, AL
Northport	Mar 18	Nov 10	237	8b	Northport 2 S, AL, 3 mi
Daphne	Mar 15	Nov 19	249	9a	Fairhope 3 Ne, AL, 5 mi

Frost dates are the dates after (spring) or before (fall) which the chance of a 32°F freeze is below 50%, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals for the weather station nearest each city’s center. Zones are from the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map for the ZIP codes around each city; a range means nearby ZIP codes differ. Cities are the 20 largest by Census Bureau 2024 population estimates.

An average is not a guarantee. There’s still about a 1 in 2 chance of frost after the average last spring date. Many gardeners wait an extra week or two before setting out tomatoes, peppers and basil, and keep covers handy.

Planting dates for Huntsville

Timed from Huntsville’s average last frost of Mar 24, using University of New Hampshire Extension’s planting guidance. For your exact dates, enter your ZIP code in the calendar below.

Crop	Start seeds indoors	Plant outside
Tomatoes	Feb 3 to Feb 17	Mar 31 to Apr 7
Peppers	Jan 27 to Feb 10	Apr 7
Lettuce	Jan 20 to Jan 27	Feb 24 to Mar 3
Broccoli	Jan 13 to Jan 27	Feb 24 to Mar 10
Cucumbers	Mar 3 to Mar 10	Mar 31 to Apr 7
Basil	Feb 10 to Feb 24	Apr 7

When to plant, for your garden

Your seed-starting and planting dates, timed from your last spring frost. Full calendar, 12 crops.

ZIP code

Last frost date

Enter your ZIP code to look up your average last frost date and hardiness zone, or type the date in yourself.

Frost dates: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020. Hardiness zones: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, 2023, ZIP code data from PRISM Group, Oregon State University, prism.oregonstate.edu, accessed Oct. 20, 2026.

More about frost dates

How to find your last frost date, and what your zone means · Full planting calendar · How to start seeds indoors

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