Skip to content

USDA Hardiness Zone 8b

Frost Dates for 39047 — Brandon, Mississippi

NOAA 1991–2020 normals from Jackson International Airport, MS (296 ft), 8 miles southwest.

Updated

In Brandon, the last spring frost (32°F) is around March 14 in half of years and has passed by April 2 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around November 14, as early as October 31 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 245 days (NOAA, Jackson International Airport, MS).

Last spring frost
March 14

50% probability

First fall frost
November 14

50% probability

Growing season
245 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
0.5"

NOAA normal

Frost risk by date in Brandon

Half of springs at Jackson International Airport, MS see their last 32°F night by March 14; only one in ten is past it by February 22, and one in ten still has one after April 2. Planting tender crops after March 22 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after March 27 20%, and after April 2 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 14 in half of years, as early as October 31 one year in ten, and holds off past December 4 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 14 days later, around November 28; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is March 17, 16 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 245 days in a typical year, longer than at 64% of the 96 Mississippi stations; it reaches 275 days one year in ten and falls short of 219 one year in ten. On average 40 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 March 29, and return around November 3. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 96% of winters and 16°F in 33%.

Spring: the chance of another night this cold after the date
Low90%80%70%60%50%40%30%20%10%
36°FMar 9Mar 15Mar 21Mar 25Mar 29Apr 2Apr 5Apr 9Apr 16
32°FFeb 22Feb 28Mar 6Mar 10Mar 14Mar 17Mar 22Mar 27Apr 2
28°FFeb 2Feb 12Feb 19Feb 24Feb 28Mar 3Mar 7Mar 12Mar 17
24°F96% of yrsJan 10Jan 23Jan 30Feb 3Feb 9Feb 15Feb 24Mar 2Mar 9
20°F71% of yrsDec 30Jan 7Jan 15Jan 21Jan 27Jan 31Feb 4Feb 14Feb 28
16°F33% of yrstoo rare for a date
Fall: the chance the first night this cold has come by the date
Low10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%
36°FOct 22Oct 26Oct 29Nov 1Nov 3Nov 6Nov 9Nov 14Nov 20
32°FOct 31Nov 4Nov 7Nov 10Nov 14Nov 18Nov 22Nov 29Dec 4
28°FNov 7Nov 12Nov 18Nov 23Nov 28Dec 1Dec 6Dec 12Dec 26
24°F96% of yrsNov 20Nov 30Dec 5Dec 10Dec 19Dec 25Jan 2Jan 7Jan 18
20°F71% of yrsDec 8Dec 19Dec 26Jan 1Jan 5Jan 8Jan 14Jan 21Feb 4
16°F33% of yrstoo rare for a date

Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at Jackson International Airport, 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 39047 →Compare Brandon with another place →

Weather by month in Brandon

July is the warmest month at Jackson International Airport, MS, averaging 92°F by day and 72°F at night; January is the coldest at 57°F and 37°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 77% of years and April still brings one in 12% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 6,162 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 66% of the 96 Mississippi stations. 41% of them (2,540) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 997. Precipitation totals 57.3 inches a year, most in April (5.8") and least in September (3.5"); May to September bring 38% of it.

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Jackson International Airport, MS
MonthHigh °FLow °FPrecip. in32°F nightNights ≤ 32°FGDD 50°F
Jan57375.4100%1288
Feb62405.195%8124
Mar69465.777%3277
Apr77535.812%<1450
May84624.40%0711
Jun90694.40%0889
Jul92725.00%0997
Aug92724.70%0987
Sep88663.50%0807
Oct78543.811%<1507
Nov67444.480%5210
Dec60395.197%11114

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Jackson International Airport, MS (296 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, Jackson Hawkins Field, MS, 14 miles west of Brandon, has a last frost 8 days earlier (March 6), a first frost 5 days later (November 19), a season 13 days longer.

Frost dates for 39056 (Clinton) →

When it snows in Brandon, Mississippi

Measurable snow is rare here: only 3 of 23 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Canton 4N, MS, 19.2 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

Planting calendar for 39047

What to do and when, from the 50% frost dates for Brandon, Mississippi
WhenWhat to do
January 3 – January 17Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out.
January 17 – January 31Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early.
February 14 – February 28Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil.
March 14 onwardTransplant tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, cucumbersThe average last freeze has passed — still watch the actual forecast.
by August 22Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops.
by October 31Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation.
November 14 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 39047 is 8 miles from Jackson International Airport, MS, which stands at 296 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 8 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 39110 (Madison). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 39047 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