Frost Dates for 39040 — Bentonia, Mississippi

Half of springs at Satartia 8 SW, MS see their last 32°F night by March 11; only one in ten is past it by February 22, and one in ten still has one after April 1. Planting tender crops after March 19 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after March 25 20%, and after April 1 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 15 in half of years, as early as October 31 one year in ten, and holds off past December 3 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 13 days later, around November 28; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is March 16, 16 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 246 days in a typical year, longer than at 68% of the 96 Mississippi stations; it reaches 272 days one year in ten and falls short of 221 one year in ten. On average 49 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 17 days longer, to about March 28, and return around November 4. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 98% of winters and 16°F in 31%.

July is the warmest month at Satartia 8 SW, MS, averaging 92°F by day and 71°F at night; January is the coldest at 57°F and 35°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from December 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 76% of years and April still brings one in 10% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 6,002 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 59% of the 96 Mississippi stations. 41% of them (2,471) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 979.

The nearest other station, Yazoo City 5 NNE, MS, 18 miles north of Bentonia, has a last frost 7 days earlier (March 4), a first frost 9 days later (November 24), a season 21 days longer.

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, 18.2 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

ZIP 39040 is 13 miles from Satartia 8 SW, MS, which stands at 141 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 39040 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.