Frost Dates for 38873 — Tishomingo, Mississippi

Half of springs at Iuka, MS see their last 32°F night by April 9; only one in ten is past it by March 23, and one in ten still has one after April 24. Planting tender crops after April 15 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 19 20%, and after April 24 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 October 28 in half of years, as early as October 15 one year in ten, and holds off past November 9 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 13, 11 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 203 days in a typical year, shorter than at 98% of the 96 Mississippi stations; it reaches 222 days one year in ten and falls short of 182 one year in ten. On average 95 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 20, and return around October 18. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes in 99% of winters, usually between December 22 and February 12.

July is the warmest month at Iuka, MS, averaging 88°F by day and 67°F at night; January is the coldest at 49°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 76% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 4,547 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), the fewest of the 96 Mississippi stations. 38% of them (1,736) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 860. Precipitation totals 62.3 inches a year, most in December (6.7") and least in October (3.8"); May to September bring 40% of it.

The nearest other station, Booneville, MS, 19 miles west of Tishomingo, has a last frost 8 days earlier (April 1), a first frost 6 days later (November 3), a season 13 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Tishomingo usually arrives around January 19, and the last of the season around January 28. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Iuka, MS, 8 miles away: half of years saw snow earlier, half later. Snow fell in 72% of those winters. The last 32°F night of spring typically comes 71 days after the last snow.

ZIP 38873 is 8 miles from Iuka, MS, which stands at 600 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 5 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 38852 (Iuka). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 38873 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.