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USDA Hardiness Zone 8b

Frost Dates for 39320 — Bailey, Mississippi

NOAA 1991–2020 normals from Meridian Naas, MS (271 ft), 9 miles east.

Updated

In Bailey, the last spring frost (32°F) is around March 14 in half of years and has passed by April 1 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around November 12, as early as October 29 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 245 days (NOAA, Meridian Naas, MS).

Last spring frost
March 14

50% probability

First fall frost
November 12

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
32%

9 of 28 observed

Snow per year
0.5"

NOAA normal

Frost risk by date in Bailey

Half of springs at Meridian Naas, 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 1. Planting tender crops after March 21 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after March 26 20%, and after April 1 10%. The 18 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 53% of the 96 Mississippi stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by November 12 in half of years, as early as October 29 one year in ten, and holds off past December 1 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 15 days later, around November 27; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is March 18, 14 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 272 days one year in ten and falls short of 219 one year in ten. On average 44 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 16 days longer, to about March 30, and return around November 2. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 96% of winters and 16°F in 39%.

Spring: the chance of another night this cold after the date
Low90%80%70%60%50%40%30%20%10%
36°FMar 9Mar 16Mar 22Mar 26Mar 30Apr 3Apr 6Apr 10Apr 17
32°FFeb 22Feb 28Mar 5Mar 10Mar 14Mar 17Mar 21Mar 26Apr 1
28°FJan 31Feb 10Feb 18Feb 23Feb 27Mar 3Mar 8Mar 13Mar 18
24°F96% of yrsJan 12Jan 22Jan 28Feb 2Feb 9Feb 15Feb 22Feb 28Mar 8
20°F75% of yrsDec 31Jan 9Jan 16Jan 22Jan 28Jan 31Feb 7Feb 14Feb 25
16°F39% 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 25Oct 28Oct 31Nov 2Nov 4Nov 7Nov 11Nov 17
32°FOct 29Nov 2Nov 5Nov 8Nov 12Nov 16Nov 21Nov 26Dec 1
28°FNov 8Nov 13Nov 17Nov 22Nov 27Dec 1Dec 6Dec 15Dec 25
24°F96% of yrsNov 20Nov 28Dec 5Dec 14Dec 23Dec 30Jan 2Jan 9Jan 19
20°F75% of yrsDec 8Dec 22Dec 30Jan 1Jan 6Jan 10Jan 16Jan 24Feb 4
16°F39% of yrstoo rare for a date

Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at Meridian Naas, 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 39320 →Compare Bailey with another place →

Weather by month in Bailey

July is the warmest month at Meridian Naas, MS, averaging 93°F by day and 72°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 May to September the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, March still brings one in 75% of years and April still brings one in 12% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 6,282 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 78% of the 96 Mississippi stations. 42% of them (2,608) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 1,014. Precipitation totals 54.9 inches a year, most in March (5.6") and least in September (2.7"); May to September bring 38% of it.

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Meridian Naas, MS
MonthHigh °FLow °FPrecip. in32°F nightNights ≤ 32°FGDD 50°F
Jan58375.299%1489
Feb63405.195%9132
Mar71465.675%4293
Apr78535.612%<1467
May85624.40%0722
Jun91694.60%0904
Jul93725.30%01014
Aug93714.00%0998
Sep89662.70%0811
Oct79543.914%<1516
Nov68433.784%6215
Dec61404.898%10121

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Meridian Naas, MS (271 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, Meridian Key Field, MS, 14 miles south of Bailey, has a last frost 2 days later (March 16), the same first-frost date, a season 6 days shorter.

Frost dates for 39305 (Meridian) →

When it snows in Bailey, Mississippi

Measurable snow is rare here: only 9 of 28 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Collinsville 7 SE, MS, 8.2 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

Planting calendar for 39320

What to do and when, from the 50% frost dates for Bailey, 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 20Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops.
by October 29Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation.
November 12 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 39320 is 9 miles from Meridian Naas, MS, which stands at 271 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 3 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 39328 (De Kalb). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 39320 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