Frost Dates for 38666 — Sardis, Mississippi

Half of springs at Sardis Dam, MS see their last 32°F night by March 15; only one in ten is past it by February 27, and one in ten still has one after April 4. Planting tender crops after March 23 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after March 29 20%, and after April 4 10%. The 20 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 64% of the 96 Mississippi stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by November 15 in half of years, as early as October 31 one year in ten, and holds off past December 5 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 13 days later, around November 28; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is March 21, 14 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 244 days in a typical year, longer than at 59% of the 96 Mississippi stations; it reaches 270 days one year in ten and falls short of 219 one year in ten. On average 58 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 16 days longer, to about March 31, and return around November 4. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 99% of winters and 16°F in 53%.

July is the warmest month at Sardis Dam, MS, averaging 92°F by day and 74°F at night; January is the coldest at 51°F and 33°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from December to February (a 90% chance or more). From May to September the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, March still brings one in 84% of years and April still brings one in 16% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 5,722 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 59% of the 96 Mississippi stations. 39% of them (2,258) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 1,009. Precipitation totals 58.1 inches a year, most in December (6.2") and least in August (3.2"); May to September bring 38% of it.

The nearest other station, Batesville 2 SW, MS, 9 miles southwest of Sardis, has a last frost 13 days later (March 28), a first frost 13 days earlier (November 2), a season 26 days shorter.

Measurable snow is rare here: only 3 of 25 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Sardis Dam, MS, 6.7 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

ZIP 38666 is 7 miles from Sardis Dam, MS, which stands at 303 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 38666 in zone 8a, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged 10 to 15°F (-12.2 to -9.4°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.