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USDA Hardiness Zone 8b

Frost Dates for 38963 — Tutwiler, Mississippi

NOAA 1991–2020 normals from Lambert 1W, MS (155 ft), 14 miles northeast.

Updated

In Tutwiler, the last spring frost (32°F) is around March 17 in half of years and has passed by April 5 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around November 7, as early as October 22 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 233 days (NOAA, Lambert 1W, MS).

Last spring frost
March 17

50% probability

First fall frost
November 7

50% probability

Growing season
233 days

freeze-free, 50%

Hardiness zone
8b

15 to 20°F (-9.4 to -6.7°C) coldest night

First snow
Rare

median, 1991–2020

Last snow
Rare

median, 1991–2020

Winters with snow
13%

3 of 23 observed

Snow per year
0.4"

NOAA normal

Frost risk by date in Tutwiler

Half of springs at Lambert 1W, MS see their last 32°F night by March 17; only one in ten is past it by February 28, and one in ten still has one after April 5. Planting tender crops after March 26 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after March 31 20%, and after April 5 10%. The 19 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 38% of the 96 Mississippi stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by November 7 in half of years, as early as October 22 one year in ten, and holds off past November 27 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 13 days later, around November 20; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is March 24, 12 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 233 days in a typical year, shorter than at 63% of the 96 Mississippi stations; it reaches 258 days one year in ten and falls short of 206 one year in ten. On average 59 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 15 days longer, to about April 1, and return around October 28. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 99% of winters and 16°F in 64%.

Spring: the chance of another night this cold after the date
Low90%80%70%60%50%40%30%20%10%
36°FMar 11Mar 18Mar 24Mar 29Apr 1Apr 4Apr 7Apr 11Apr 18
32°FFeb 28Mar 5Mar 9Mar 13Mar 17Mar 22Mar 26Mar 31Apr 5
28°FFeb 13Feb 21Feb 26Mar 2Mar 5Mar 8Mar 12Mar 18Mar 24
24°F99% of yrsJan 24Jan 31Feb 7Feb 14Feb 20Feb 24Mar 1Mar 5Mar 13
20°F92% of yrsJan 4Jan 14Jan 22Jan 28Feb 1Feb 7Feb 14Feb 23Mar 3
16°F64% of yrsDec 29Jan 6Jan 12Jan 18Jan 22Jan 27Jan 31Feb 4Feb 14
Fall: the chance the first night this cold has come by the date
Low10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%
36°FOct 13Oct 18Oct 22Oct 25Oct 28Oct 31Nov 3Nov 7Nov 13
32°FOct 22Oct 27Oct 31Nov 3Nov 7Nov 11Nov 15Nov 20Nov 27
28°FOct 31Nov 5Nov 11Nov 16Nov 20Nov 25Nov 30Dec 4Dec 15
24°F99% of yrsNov 11Nov 20Nov 26Dec 1Dec 5Dec 12Dec 20Dec 29Jan 6
20°F92% of yrsNov 29Dec 6Dec 13Dec 22Dec 29Jan 1Jan 7Jan 15Jan 24
16°F64% of yrsDec 12Dec 23Dec 30Jan 2Jan 7Jan 11Jan 16Jan 21Jan 31

Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at Lambert 1W, MS, from NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals. Where a temperature is reached in fewer than 99.5% of years, the dates describe only the years that reach it. Not a forecast.

Frost risk on any date in 38963 →Compare Tutwiler with another place →

Weather by month in Tutwiler

July is the warmest month at Lambert 1W, MS, averaging 92°F by day and 71°F at night; January is the coldest at 50°F and 32°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 85% of years and April still brings one in 18% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 5,534 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 69% of the 96 Mississippi stations. 40% of them (2,208) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 981. Precipitation totals 56.7 inches a year, most in April (6.1") and least in July (3.0"); May to September bring 34% of it.

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Lambert 1W, MS
MonthHigh °FLow °FPrecip. in32°F nightNights ≤ 32°FGDD 50°F
Jan50325.1100%1836
Feb55355.7100%1465
Mar64435.585%4190
Apr74516.118%<1383
May82615.90%0662
Jun90694.20%0871
Jul92713.00%0981
Aug92713.30%0966
Sep87643.10%0757
Oct76514.230%1420
Nov64414.591%7149
Dec53356.1100%1553

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Lambert 1W, MS (155 ft), NOAA NCEI. "32°F night": chance of at least one in the month. GDD: growing degree days, base 50°F.

Compared with the next station

The nearest other station, Clarksdale, MS, 15 miles northwest of Tutwiler, has a last frost 1 day earlier (March 16), a first frost 5 days later (November 12), a season 10 days longer.

Frost dates for 38614 (Clarksdale) →

When it snows in Tutwiler, Mississippi

Measurable snow is rare here: only 3 of 23 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Lambert 1W, MS, 14.2 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

Planting calendar for 38963

What to do and when, from the 50% frost dates for Tutwiler, Mississippi
WhenWhat to do
January 6 – January 20Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out.
January 20 – February 3Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early.
February 17 – March 3Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil.
March 17 onwardTransplant tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, cucumbersThe average last freeze has passed — still watch the actual forecast.
by August 15Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops.
by October 24Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation.
November 7 onwardPlant garlic, mulch beds, lift tender bulbsGarlic wants a cold spell; bare soil loses structure over winter.

The weeks before and after the 50% dates are general rules of thumb, not NOAA figures; a seed packet gives the timing for each variety.

Where these figures come from

ZIP 38963 is 14 miles from Lambert 1W, MS, which stands at 155 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 38963 in zone 8b, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged 15 to 20°F (-9.4 to -6.7°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.

Frost dates across Mississippi →

Hardiness zone and temperature range: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023 (USDA-ARS, Oregon State University), ZIP-code listing, unchanged. °C converted from °F by this site.

Thirty-year averages, not a forecast: check the forecast before planting out. How stations are matched and which pages are offered to search engines: methodology.

ZIP codes measured at the same station

Other zone 8b places in Mississippi