Frost dates for Athens, AL
At Athens, the median last spring frost (32°F) is Mar 20 and the median first fall frost is Nov 12, for a typical growing season of 238 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until Apr 7. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zone 8a.
- Mar 20Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- Apr 7Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Nov 12First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 238 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 17 | Apr 4 | Apr 19 |
| 32°F | Mar 1 | Mar 20 | Apr 7 |
| 28°F | Feb 13 | Mar 6 | Mar 26 |
| 24°F | Jan 26 | Feb 19 | Mar 15 |
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 22 | Nov 1 | Nov 15 |
| 32°F | Nov 1 | Nov 12 | Dec 1 |
| 28°F | Nov 6 | Nov 24 | Dec 18 |
| 24°F | Nov 16 | Dec 10 | Jan 9 |
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 | 193 days | 214 days | 237 days |
| 32°F | 215 days | 238 days | 265 days |
| 28°F | 236 days | 264 days | 295 days |
| 24°F | 263 days | 294 days | 327 days |
Chance of a freeze in any year
| Temperature | Chance per year |
|---|---|
| 36°F | 100% |
| 32°F | 100% |
| 28°F | 100% |
| 24°F | 100% |
ZIP codes whose closest station is this one
| ZIP | Hardiness zone | Avg. extreme low | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 35613 | 8a | 10 to 15°F | 8 km |
| 35611 | 8a | 10 to 15°F | 12 km |
| 35614 | 8a | 10 to 15°F | 15 km |
| 35749 | 8a | 10 to 15°F | 18 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 USC00010390, at 34.7753, -86.9508, elevation 210 m (689 ft).
- Data quality: Standard (24+ years of data), 26 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 63.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Belle Mina 2 N (11 km)
- Decatur Pryor Field (14 km)
- Huntsville Intl Airport (21 km)
- Decatur 4se (22 km)
- Courtland 2 WSW (38 km)
- Lexington (44 km)
- Moulton 2 (45 km)
- Owens Cross Roads 3s (52 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.