Frost Dates for 38965 — Water Valley, Mississippi

Half of springs at Water Valley, MS see their last 32°F night by April 1; only one in ten is past it by March 9, and one in ten still has one after April 18. Planting tender crops after April 7 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 11 20%, and after April 18 10%. The 17 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 71% of the 96 Mississippi stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by November 3 in half of years, as early as October 22 one year in ten, and holds off past November 20 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 11 days later, around November 14; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 4, 14 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 219 days in a typical year, shorter than at 86% of the 96 Mississippi stations; it reaches 242 days one year in ten and falls short of 195 one year in ten. On average 76 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 12 days longer, to about April 13, and return around October 26. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 100% of winters and 16°F in 88%.

July is the warmest month at Water Valley, MS, averaging 90°F by day and 70°F at night; January is the coldest at 53°F and 30°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 50% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 5,173 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 88% of the 96 Mississippi stations. 39% of them (2,027) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 930. Precipitation totals 58.7 inches a year, most in April (6.3") and least in September (3.6"); May to September bring 39% of it.

The nearest other station, University, MS, 16 miles north of Water Valley, has a last frost 2 days later (April 3), a first frost 3 days earlier (October 31), a season 9 days shorter.

Measurable snow is rare here: only 10 of 25 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Coffeeville, MS, 11.9 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

ZIP 38965 is under a mile from Water Valley, MS, which stands at 310 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 38965 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.