Frost dates 2026–2027

Frost dates for Athens, Alabama

Median (50% chance) dates of the last and first 32°F frost, from NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at Athens, 0.2 mi away (close match).

Last spring frostMar 20
First fall frostNov 12
238 frost-free days
Last spring frostMar 201 year in 10 after Apr 7
First fall frostNov 121 year in 10 by Nov 1
Growing season238 daysbetween median 32°F dates
Hardiness zoneZone 8a10 to 15°F average extreme low

Checking current alerts… View NWS forecast and alerts.

Will it freeze in Athens in the next 7 nights?

No overnight lows at or below 32°F are forecast in Athens during the next 7 nights in the available NWS frost forecast.

Tonight: forecast low 44°F. Above 36°F.

NWS forecast period: Thu, Nov 5, 6:00 PM CST to Fri, Nov 6, 6:00 AM CST.

3 of the next 7 nights are forecast at 36°F or colder, cold enough for frost on exposed plants.

Overnight lows from the National Weather Service forecast for this location. This covers the available forecast window, not the first freeze of the whole season. Frost can form above 32°F on clear, calm nights.

Frost and freeze probabilities

Freeze dates shift from year to year. Spring percentages describe the chance of a freeze after the stated date; fall percentages describe the chance of a freeze by that date. The 10% spring date is the cautious one: a later freeze happens about 1 year in 10.

These dates describe historical probabilities, not this year’s forecast or the earliest and latest possible freezes. Different weather stations or probability thresholds can produce different published dates for the same city.

Average first hard freeze in Athens

The median first fall hard-freeze date (28°F) is November 24, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at Athens. This is the 50% probability date, not a forecast for this year.

TemperatureLast spring date
90% · 50% · 10% chance of a later freeze
First fall date
10% · 50% · 90% chance of an earlier freeze
Season
36°F frost possible Mar 17 · Apr 4 · Apr 19 Oct 22 · Nov 1 · Nov 15 214 days
32°F freeze Mar 1 · Mar 20 · Apr 7 Nov 1 · Nov 12 · Dec 1 238 days
28°F hard freeze Feb 13 · Mar 6 · Mar 26 Nov 6 · Nov 24 · Dec 18 264 days
NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00010390. How to read these probabilities.

Average high temperature by month

1991–2020 normals at Athens

Average low temperature by month

Months with lows near or below freezing carry frost risk

Where these frost dates come from

The frost dates for Athens, AL come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: Athens (station USC00010390, elevation 689 ft), 0.2 mi from Athens. Local conditions (valleys, hilltops, distance to water, city heat) can shift frost dates by days or weeks. The hardiness zone is from the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (USDA ARS and Oregon State University PRISM). See our methodology.

Frost dates near Athens

CityDistanceLast spring frostFirst fall frost
Madison, AL 12 mi Mar 24 Nov 8
Decatur, AL 14 mi Mar 26 Nov 7
Huntsville, AL 17 mi Mar 24 Nov 8
Triana, AL 17 mi Mar 24 Nov 8
Hartselle, AL 24 mi Mar 26 Nov 7
Pulaski, TN 29 mi Apr 14 Oct 24
Fayetteville, TN 34 mi Apr 7 Oct 28
Muscle Shoals, AL 39 mi Mar 30 Nov 3
Lawrenceburg, TN 39 mi Apr 8 Oct 31
Arab, AL 40 mi Mar 19 Nov 18

Frequently asked questions

When is the last frost in Athens?

On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in Athens is around March 20. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after April 7, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after March 1.

When is the first frost in Athens?

The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around November 12. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by November 1 and a 90% chance by December 1.

Can it frost in Athens after the last frost date?

Yes. Frost can form on clear, calm nights even when the air stays above 32°F. Temperatures of 36°F or lower, cold enough for frost on exposed plants, have a 50% chance of occurring after April 4.

What growing zone is Athens?

Athens is in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 8a (average annual extreme minimum temperature 10 to 15°F), based on the 2023 USDA map for ZIP code 35613. See growing zones in Alabama.

More: all Alabama frost dates · Alabama growing zones · UV index today in Athens · frost vs. freeze