Frost Dates for 39429 — Columbia, Mississippi

Half of springs at Columbia, MS see their last 32°F night by March 5; only one in ten is past it by February 11, and one in ten still has one after March 24. Planting tender crops after March 13 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after March 17 20%, and after March 24 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 19 in half of years, as early as November 3 one year in ten, and holds off past December 9 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 15 days later, around December 4; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is March 13, 11 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 262 days in a typical year, longer than at 91% of the 96 Mississippi stations; it reaches 293 days one year in ten and falls short of 235 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 17 days longer, to about March 22, and return around November 8. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 88% of winters and 16°F in 18%.

July is the warmest month at Columbia, MS, averaging 92°F by day and 72°F at night; January is the coldest at 60°F and 38°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from December to January (a 90% chance or more). From April to October the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, February still brings one in 90% of years and March still brings one in 61% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 6,453 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 90% of the 96 Mississippi stations. 42% of them (2,709) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 992. Precipitation totals 62.0 inches a year, most in January (6.5") and least in September (3.6"); May to September bring 42% of it.

The nearest other station, Tylertown 5ESE, MS, 20 miles southwest of Columbia and 232 feet higher, has a last frost 10 days later (March 15), a first frost 3 days earlier (November 16), a season 17 days shorter.

Measurable snow is rare here: only 5 of 28 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Columbia, MS, 2.6 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

ZIP 39429 is 3 miles from Columbia, MS, which stands at 150 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 39429 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.