Frost Dates for 39146 — Pickens, Mississippi

Half of springs at Pickens, MS see their last 32°F night by March 14; only one in ten is past it by February 25, and one in ten still has one after April 6. Planting tender crops after March 24 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after March 30 20%, and after April 6 10%. The 23 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 92% 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 8 in half of years, as early as October 26 one year in ten, and holds off past November 30 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 15 days later, around November 23; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is March 19, 18 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 239 days in a typical year, shorter than at 49% of the 96 Mississippi stations; it reaches 266 days one year in ten and falls short of 213 one year in ten. On average 55 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 18 days longer, to about April 1, and return around November 1. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 98% of winters and 16°F in 52%.

July is the warmest month at Pickens, MS, averaging 89°F by day and 71°F at night; January is the coldest at 56°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 79% of years and April still brings one in 17% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 5,572 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 68% of the 96 Mississippi stations. 41% of them (2,282) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 927.

The nearest other station, Canton 4N, MS, 15 miles south of Pickens, has a last frost 8 days later (March 22), a first frost 2 days earlier (November 6), a season 9 days shorter.

Measurable snow is rare here: only 3 of 18 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Pickens, MS, 0.6 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

ZIP 39146 is under a mile from Pickens, MS, which stands at 238 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 39146 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.