Alabama is a temperate state with a tendency towards hot, humid summers. This is especially true in the lower coastal plain, a subtropical region heavily influenced by the Gulf of Mexico. The Black Belt lies above the coastal area and derives its name from its fertile soil, which enjoys a longer growing season than the rest of the state. The northern plateau is subject to colder winters than though the summers are still hot and sticky.

Alabama gets an average of about 60 inches of rainfall per year. Mobile Alabama is one of the rainiest cities in the country, and averages over 66 inches of rainfall per year. Occasional snowfall occurs on Alabama’s northern plateau. Southern Alabama’s location on the Gulf of Mexico makes it subject to hurricanes and tropical storms.