Frost Dates for 38633 — Hickory Flat, Mississippi

Half of springs at Hickory Flat, MS see their last 32°F night by April 8; only one in ten is past it by March 22, and one in ten still has one after April 25. Planting tender crops after April 14 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 19 20%, and after April 25 10%. The 17 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 71% of the 96 Mississippi stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 28 in half of years, as early as October 14 one year in ten, and holds off past November 11 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 8 days later, around November 5; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 12, 13 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 202 days in a typical year, the shortest of the 96 Mississippi stations; it reaches 224 days one year in ten and falls short of 180 one year in ten. On average 80 nights a year drop to 32°F or below. Nights of 36°F, when frost can still settle on leaves in low, open spots, continue 12 days longer, to about April 20, and return around October 20. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes in 98% of winters, usually between December 20 and February 15.

July is the warmest month at Hickory Flat, MS, averaging 90°F by day and 68°F at night; January is the coldest at 51°F and 28°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from November to March (a 90% chance or more). From May to September the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, April still brings one in 72% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 4,788 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 96% of the 96 Mississippi stations. 39% of them (1,851) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 893. Precipitation totals 58.7 inches a year, most in December (6.2") and least in October (3.7"); May to September bring 39% of it.

The nearest other station, Ashland, MS, 15 miles north of Hickory Flat and 203 feet higher, has a last frost 10 days earlier (March 29), a first frost 9 days later (November 6), a season 22 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Hickory Flat usually arrives around January 26, and the last of the season around February 11. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Hickory Flat, MS, 0.9 miles away: half of years saw snow earlier, half later. Snow fell in 69% of those winters. The last 32°F night of spring typically comes 56 days after the last snow.

ZIP 38633 is under a mile from Hickory Flat, MS, which stands at 400 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 3 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 38652 (New Albany). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 38633 in zone 7b, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged 5 to 10°F (-15.0 to -12.2°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.