Frost Dates for 38677 — University, Mississippi

Half of springs at University, MS see their last 32°F night by April 3; only one in ten is past it by March 13, and one in ten still has one after April 21. Planting tender crops after April 10 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 15 20%, and after April 21 10%. The 18 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 53% of the 96 Mississippi stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 31 in half of years, as early as October 18 one year in ten, and holds off past November 17 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 12 days later, around November 12; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 10, 11 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 210 days in a typical year, shorter than at 94% of the 96 Mississippi stations; it reaches 234 days one year in ten and falls short of 189 one year in ten. On average 68 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 11 days longer, to about April 14, and return around October 22. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes in 90% of winters, usually between December 31 and January 31.

July is the warmest month at University, MS, averaging 91°F by day and 70°F at night; January is the coldest at 52°F and 31°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 57% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 5,324 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 81% of the 96 Mississippi stations. 40% of them (2,122) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 953. Precipitation totals 60.6 inches a year, most in December (6.5") and least in August (3.9"); May to September bring 38% of it.

The nearest other station, Sardis Dam, MS, 15 miles west of University, has a last frost 19 days earlier (March 15), a first frost 15 days later (November 15), a season 34 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in University usually arrives around January 17, and the last of the season around January 28. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at University, MS, 0.6 miles away: half of years saw snow earlier, half later. Snow fell in 76% of those winters. The last 32°F night of spring typically comes 65 days after the last snow.

ZIP 38677 is under a mile from University, MS, which stands at 408 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 2 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 38655 (Oxford). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 38677 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.