Frost Dates for 38801 — Tupelo, Mississippi

Half of springs at Tupelo Regional Airport, MS see their last 32°F night by March 21; only one in ten is past it by February 28, and one in ten still has one after April 6. Planting tender crops after March 30 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 2 20%, and after April 6 10%. The 16 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 86% of the 96 Mississippi stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by November 10 in half of years, as early as October 29 one year in ten, and holds off past November 28 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 13 days later, around November 23; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is March 24, 13 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 235 days in a typical year, shorter than at 59% of the 96 Mississippi stations; it reaches 260 days one year in ten and falls short of 211 one year in ten. On average 54 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 14 days longer, to about April 4, and return around November 1. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 100% of winters and 16°F in 65%.

July is the warmest month at Tupelo Regional Airport, MS, averaging 92°F by day and 72°F at night; January is the coldest at 53°F and 34°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from November 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 86% of years and April still brings one in 25% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 5,723 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 58% of the 96 Mississippi stations. 40% of them (2,294) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 1,003. Precipitation totals 57.8 inches a year, most in December (5.9") and least in September (3.6"); May to September bring 39% of it.

The nearest other station, Tupelo 2, MS, 2 miles north of Tupelo, has the same 50% last-frost date, the same first-frost date, a season 2 days longer.

Measurable snow is rare here: only 8 of 21 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Tupelo 2, MS, 2.1 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

ZIP 38801 is 2 miles from Tupelo Regional Airport, MS, which stands at 361 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 1 other ZIP code shares the station. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 38801 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.