Your nature year
Tuscaloosa, Alabamathrough the year
Also for Northport, AL: the same nearby places.
When do frost, green-up and fall color come to Tuscaloosa?
Spring green-up reaches town around Feb 6, with first blooms around Mar 10. Expect about 237 frost-free days in Tuscaloosa: the last spring frost usually comes around Mar 18, the first fall one around Nov 10, going by NOAA's Northport 2 S station 3.9 miles away. Across Alabama, fall color is usually well under way by early November. We follow 4 places within 150 miles of Tuscaloosa; the nearest lies 101 miles to the east. The closest place we follow is Talladega National Forest, 101 miles away, for fall foliage, usually well under way by early November (statewide). Natchez Trace Parkway, Mississippi (102 mi) is the pick for wildflowers, Mar 1–May 31 (local timing).
Updated Sep 28. Sources: US Census Bureau, 2024 Gazetteer (places) ↗ (opens in a new tab), US Census Bureau, city and town population estimates, 2024 ↗ (opens in a new tab), NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (annual/seasonal) ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Tuscaloosa's year at a glance
- Frost possible
- Frost-free, ~Mar 18 to ~Nov 10
- First leaf ~Feb 6
- First bloom ~Mar 10
- Fall color under way ~Nov 4 (AL)
- Today
Near Tuscaloosa right now
- Fall color is usually well under way by early November in AlabamaStatewide · USA-NPN volunteer observations, 2020–2025 · not a forecast~5 weeks
- First fall frost usually around Nov 10 · last spring frost around Mar 18NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Northport 2 S (3.9 mi, 50% dates)~6 weeks
- Fall foliage · Talladega National Forest · 101 miStatewide: usually well under way by early November~5 weeks
Tuscaloosa's nature year
- Spring green-upFeb
- Wildflowers · Natchez Trace Parkway, MississippiMar–May
- Last spring frostMar
- Fall color (AL)Nov
- First fall frostNov
Nearby, season by season
Fall foliage
- Talladega National Forest · 101 miStatewide: usually well under way by early November~5 weeks
- Natchez Trace Parkway, Mississippi · 102 miLocal timing: Oct 15–Nov 20~2 weeks
- Little River Canyon · 135 miusually Oct 21–Nov 10~3 weeks
Wildflowers
- Natchez Trace Parkway, Mississippi · 102 miLocal timing: Mar 1–May 31~5 months
Frost and green-up
Last spring frost
Mar 18
Average (50% date)
First fall frost
Nov 10
About 237 days without frost between
Spring green-up
Feb 6
First bloom around Mar 10
Frost: NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at Northport 2 S (3.9 mi from Tuscaloosa), the day a 32 °F night is as likely as not. Green-up: the USA-NPN Spring Index, 1991–2020 average at the town.
Questions people ask
When is the first frost in Tuscaloosa?
On average around Nov 10, and the last spring frost around Mar 18: about 237 days without frost between. These are NOAA's 1991–2020 normals at Northport 2 S, 3.9 miles away (the day a 32 °F night is as likely as not).
When does spring green-up reach Tuscaloosa?
The USA-NPN Spring Index puts first leaf around Feb 6 and first bloom around Mar 10, on average for 1991–2020 at the town.
Where can I see fall foliage near Tuscaloosa?
Talladega National Forest, 101 miles (statewide: usually well under way by early November); Natchez Trace Parkway, Mississippi, 102 miles (local timing: Oct 15–Nov 20); Little River Canyon, 135 miles (usually Oct 21–Nov 10). Distances are straight-line.
Where can I see wildflowers near Tuscaloosa?
Natchez Trace Parkway, Mississippi, 102 miles (local timing: Mar 1–May 31). Distances are straight-line.
How we know
US Census Bureau, 2024 Gazetteer (places) (opens in a new tab) (Sep 27) · US Census Bureau, city and town population estimates, 2024 (opens in a new tab) (Sep 27) · NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (annual/seasonal) (opens in a new tab) (Sep 27) · USA National Phenology Network, Spring Index 1991–2020 averages (opens in a new tab) (Sep 27) · USA National Phenology Network, colored leaves observations (opens in a new tab) (Sep 28)