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Will it freeze in Rainbow City in the next 7 nights?
No overnight lows at or below 32°F are forecast in Rainbow City during the next 7 nights in the available NWS frost forecast.
Tonight: forecast low 48°F. Above 36°F.
NWS forecast period: Thu, Nov 5, 6:00 PM CST to Fri, Nov 6, 6:00 AM CST.
2 of the next 7 nights are forecast at 36°F or colder, cold enough for frost on exposed plants.
- Tonight 48°F Above 36°F · Partly Cloudy
- Fri, Nov 6 43°F Above 36°F · Mostly Clear
- Sat, Nov 7 35°F Frost possible · Mostly Clear then Patchy Frost
- Sun, Nov 8 36°F Frost possible · Partly Cloudy then Patchy Frost
- Mon, Nov 9 37°F Above 36°F · Partly Cloudy
- Tue, Nov 10 38°F Above 36°F · Mostly Clear
- Wed, Nov 11 40°F Above 36°F · Mostly Clear
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 Rainbow City
The median first fall hard-freeze date (28°F) is November 27, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at Gadsden. This is the 50% probability date, not a forecast for this year.
| Temperature | Last 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 16 · Apr 1 · Apr 21 | Oct 22 · Nov 3 · Nov 18 | 215 days |
| 32°F freeze | Feb 27 · Mar 19 · Apr 7 | Nov 1 · Nov 13 · Dec 1 | 240 days |
| 28°F hard freeze | Feb 11 · Mar 4 · Mar 24 | Nov 9 · Nov 27 · Dec 23 | 268 days |
Average high temperature by month
1991–2020 normals at Gadsden
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 Rainbow City, AL come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: Gadsden (station USC00013154, elevation 565 ft), 8.5 mi from Rainbow City. 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 Rainbow City
| City | Distance | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Attalla, AL | 4.3 mi | Mar 19 | Nov 13 |
| Southside, AL | 4.3 mi | Mar 19 | Nov 13 |
| Gadsden, AL | 6.8 mi | Mar 19 | Nov 13 |
| Glencoe, AL | 8.7 mi | Mar 19 | Nov 13 |
| Boaz, AL | 19 mi | Mar 31 | Nov 3 |
| Jacksonville, AL | 21 mi | Apr 6 | Oct 31 |
| Oneonta, AL | 23 mi | Mar 26 | Nov 10 |
| Anniston, AL | 24 mi | Mar 23 | Nov 9 |
| Albertville, AL | 24 mi | Mar 17 | Nov 19 |
| Lincoln, AL | 24 mi | Mar 26 | Nov 4 |
Frequently asked questions
When is the last frost in Rainbow City?
On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in Rainbow City is around March 19. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after April 7, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after February 27.
When is the first frost in Rainbow City?
The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around November 13. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by November 1 and a 90% chance by December 1.
Can it frost in Rainbow City 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 1.
What growing zone is Rainbow City?
Rainbow City 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 35906. See growing zones in Alabama.
More: all Alabama frost dates · Alabama growing zones · frost vs. freeze