Frost Dates for 39039 — Benton, Mississippi

Half of springs at Yazoo City 5 NNE, MS see their last 32°F night by March 4; only one in ten is past it by February 7, and one in ten still has one after March 25. Planting tender crops after March 13 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after March 18 20%, and after March 25 10%. The 21 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 73% of the 96 Mississippi stations behind this site's ZIP pages, so a fixed calendar date is a gamble here.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by November 24 in half of years, as early as November 5 one year in ten, and holds off past December 18 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 19 days later, around December 13; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is March 12, 13 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 267 days in a typical year, longer than at 93% of the 96 Mississippi stations; it reaches 300 days one year in ten and falls short of 237 one year in ten. On average 36 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 March 18, and return around November 11. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 84% of winters and 16°F in 18%.

July is the warmest month at Yazoo City 5 NNE, MS, averaging 94°F by day and 75°F at night; January is the coldest at 58°F and 39°F. A freezing night is all but certain in January (a 90% chance or more). From April to October the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, February still brings one in 89% of years and March still brings one in 56% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 6,875 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 97% of the 96 Mississippi stations. 42% of them (2,858) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 1,076. Precipitation totals 60.4 inches a year, most in April (6.6") and least in September (3.3"); May to September bring 36% of it.

The nearest other station, Pickens, MS, 15 miles east of Benton, has a last frost 10 days later (March 14), a first frost 16 days earlier (November 8), a season 28 days shorter.

Measurable snow is rare here: only 4 of 28 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Yazoo City 5 NNE, MS, 10.6 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

ZIP 39039 is 11 miles from Yazoo City 5 NNE, MS, which stands at 107 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 1 other ZIP code shares the station; its figures are presented in full for 39194 (Yazoo City). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 39039 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.