Frost Dates for 38871 — Thaxton, Mississippi

Half of springs at Pontotoc Exp Stn, MS see their last 32°F night by March 28; only one in ten is past it by March 7, and one in ten still has one after April 12. Planting tender crops after April 3 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 6 20%, and after April 12 10%. The 15 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 94% of the 96 Mississippi stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by November 8 in half of years, as early as October 24 one year in ten, and holds off past November 26 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 12 days later, around November 20; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 2, 10 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 227 days in a typical year, shorter than at 74% of the 96 Mississippi stations; it reaches 253 days one year in ten and falls short of 202 one year in ten. On average 63 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 10 days longer, to about April 7, and return around October 29. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 100% of winters and 16°F in 85%.

July is the warmest month at Pontotoc Exp Stn, MS, averaging 90°F by day and 70°F at night; January is the coldest at 51°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 37% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 5,190 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 85% of the 96 Mississippi stations. 40% of them (2,053) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 924. Precipitation totals 60.9 inches a year, most in December (6.3") and least in September (3.7"); May to September bring 39% of it.

The nearest other station, University, MS, 19 miles west of Thaxton, has a last frost 6 days later (April 3), a first frost 8 days earlier (October 31), a season 17 days shorter.

Measurable snow is rare here: only 4 of 25 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Pontotoc Exp Stn, MS, 17.3 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

ZIP 38871 is 17 miles from Pontotoc Exp Stn, MS, which stands at 405 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 38863 (Pontotoc). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 38871 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.