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USDA Hardiness Zone 8b

Frost Dates for 39059 — Crystal Springs, Mississippi

NOAA 1991–2020 normals from Crystal Spgs Exp Stn, MS (487 ft), 3 miles south.

Updated

In Crystal Springs, the last spring frost (32°F) is around March 11 in half of years and has passed by March 30 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around November 16, as early as November 1 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 250 days (NOAA, Crystal Spgs Exp Stn, MS).

Last spring frost
March 11

50% probability

First fall frost
November 16

50% probability

Growing season
250 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
22%

6 of 27 observed

Snow per year
0.7"

NOAA normal

Frost risk by date in Crystal Springs

Half of springs at Crystal Spgs Exp Stn, MS see their last 32°F night by March 11; only one in ten is past it by February 21, and one in ten still has one after March 30. Planting tender crops after March 18 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after March 24 20%, and after March 30 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 16 in half of years, as early as November 1 one year in ten, and holds off past December 6 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 12 days later, around November 28; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is March 16, 14 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 250 days in a typical year, longer than at 75% of the 96 Mississippi stations; it reaches 279 days one year in ten and falls short of 225 one year in ten. On average 37 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 26, and return around November 6. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 97% of winters and 16°F in 45%.

Spring: the chance of another night this cold after the date
Low90%80%70%60%50%40%30%20%10%
36°FMar 6Mar 12Mar 17Mar 21Mar 26Mar 31Apr 3Apr 6Apr 12
32°FFeb 21Feb 28Mar 3Mar 7Mar 11Mar 15Mar 18Mar 24Mar 30
28°FJan 31Feb 10Feb 17Feb 22Feb 26Mar 2Mar 6Mar 11Mar 16
24°F97% of yrsJan 16Jan 27Jan 31Feb 5Feb 12Feb 17Feb 23Mar 1Mar 7
20°F79% of yrsDec 31Jan 11Jan 18Jan 25Jan 30Feb 2Feb 8Feb 16Feb 28
16°F45% 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 25Oct 29Nov 1Nov 3Nov 6Nov 8Nov 12Nov 16Nov 22
32°FNov 1Nov 5Nov 9Nov 12Nov 16Nov 20Nov 25Nov 29Dec 6
28°FNov 7Nov 14Nov 20Nov 24Nov 28Dec 2Dec 7Dec 16Dec 27
24°F97% of yrsNov 18Nov 27Dec 4Dec 11Dec 20Dec 26Jan 1Jan 5Jan 15
20°F79% of yrsDec 2Dec 14Dec 25Dec 31Jan 4Jan 9Jan 15Jan 22Feb 2
16°F45% of yrstoo rare for a date

Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at Crystal Spgs Exp Stn, 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 39059 →Compare Crystal Springs with another place →

Weather by month in Crystal Springs

July is the warmest month at Crystal Spgs Exp Stn, MS, averaging 92°F by day and 71°F at night; January is the coldest at 58°F and 37°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from December to February (a 90% chance or more). From April to October the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, March still brings one in 76% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 6,170 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 68% of the 96 Mississippi stations. 41% of them (2,534) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 984. Precipitation totals 62.6 inches a year, most in January (6.1") and least in October (3.4"); May to September bring 40% of it.

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Crystal Spgs Exp Stn, MS
MonthHigh °FLow °FPrecip. in32°F nightNights ≤ 32°FGDD 50°F
Jan58376.1100%1290
Feb63405.996%8131
Mar70465.876%3279
Apr76535.78%<1451
May84624.40%0704
Jun90695.60%0879
Jul92715.40%0984
Aug92715.80%0976
Sep88663.90%0802
Oct79543.48%<1521
Nov68444.780%4231
Dec61395.998%10121

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Crystal Spgs Exp Stn, MS (487 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, Hazlehurst 5 SW, MS, 12 miles southwest of Crystal Springs, has a last frost 3 days later (March 14), a first frost 3 days earlier (November 13), a season 5 days shorter.

Frost dates for 39083 (Hazlehurst) →

When it snows in Crystal Springs, Mississippi

Measurable snow is rare here: only 6 of 27 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Crystal Spgs Exp Stn, MS, 2.8 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

Planting calendar for 39059

What to do and when, from the 50% frost dates for Crystal Springs, Mississippi
WhenWhat to do
December 31 – January 14Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out.
January 14 – January 28Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early.
February 11 – February 25Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil.
March 11 onwardTransplant tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, cucumbersThe average last freeze has passed — still watch the actual forecast.
by August 24Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops.
by November 2Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation.
November 16 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 39059 is 3 miles from Crystal Spgs Exp Stn, MS, which stands at 487 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 39059 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