Frost dates for Bessemer 3 WSW, AL
At Bessemer 3 WSW, the median last spring frost (32°F) is Mar 23 and the median first fall frost is Nov 10, for a typical growing season of 231 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until Apr 11. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zones 8a to 8b.
- Mar 23Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- Apr 11Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Nov 10First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 231 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 21 | Apr 6 | Apr 21 |
| 32°F | Mar 3 | Mar 23 | Apr 11 |
| 28°F | Feb 15 | Mar 9 | Mar 28 |
| 24°F | Jan 25 | Feb 23 | 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 18 | Nov 1 | Nov 14 |
| 32°F | Oct 27 | Nov 10 | Nov 28 |
| 28°F | Nov 4 | Nov 23 | Dec 12 |
| 24°F | Nov 15 | Dec 6 | Jan 7 |
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 | 189 days | 208 days | 230 days |
| 32°F | 208 days | 231 days | 256 days |
| 28°F | 233 days | 257 days | 287 days |
| 24°F | 257 days | 289 days | 324 days |
Chance of a freeze in any year
| Temperature | Chance per year |
|---|---|
| 36°F | 100% |
| 32°F | 100% |
| 28°F | 100% |
| 24°F | 99% |
ZIP codes whose closest station is this one
| ZIP | Hardiness zone | Avg. extreme low | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 35020 | 8a | 10 to 15°F | 5 km |
| 35022 | 8b | 15 to 20°F | 8 km |
| 35228 | 8a | 10 to 15°F | 10 km |
| 35061 | 8a | 10 to 15°F | 11 km |
| 35023 | 8a | 10 to 15°F | 11 km |
| 35127 | 8b | 15 to 20°F | 11 km |
| 35221 | 8a | 10 to 15°F | 12 km |
| 35064 | 8b | 15 to 20°F | 12 km |
| 35211 | 8b | 15 to 20°F | 15 km |
| 35111 | 8b | 15 to 20°F | 15 km |
| 35118 | 8a | 10 to 15°F | 15 km |
| 35224 | 8b | 15 to 20°F | 16 km |
| 35074 | 8b | 15 to 20°F | 22 km |
| 35005 | 8a | 10 to 15°F | 23 km |
| 35188 | 8b | 15 to 20°F | 29 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 USC00010764, at 33.3953, -87.0078, elevation 136 m (445 ft).
- Data quality: Standard (24+ years of data), 28 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 57.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Helena (21 km)
- Birmingham Airport (31 km)
- Alabaster Shelby Co Airport (32 km)
- Bankhead L&d (33 km)
- Pinson (44 km)
- Northport 2 S (58 km)
- Tuscaloosa Acfd (60 km)
- Tuscaloosa Muni Airport (60 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.