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USDA Hardiness Zone 8b

Frost Dates for 39475 — Purvis, Mississippi

NOAA 1991–2020 normals from Hattiesburg 5SW, MS (385 ft), 8 miles northeast.

Updated

In Purvis, the last spring frost (32°F) is around March 7 in half of years and has passed by March 26 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around November 23, as early as November 5 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 261 days (NOAA, Hattiesburg 5SW, MS).

Last spring frost
March 7

50% probability

First fall frost
November 23

50% probability

Growing season
261 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
7%

2 of 28 observed

Snow per year
0.3"

NOAA normal

Frost risk by date in Purvis

Half of springs at Hattiesburg 5SW, MS see their last 32°F night by March 7; only one in ten is past it by February 14, and one in ten still has one after March 26. Planting tender crops after March 15 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after March 20 20%, and after March 26 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 23 in half of years, as early as November 5 one year in ten, and holds off past December 14 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 11 days later, around December 4; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is March 16, 10 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 261 days in a typical year, longer than at 89% of the 96 Mississippi stations; it reaches 290 days one year in ten and falls short of 234 one year in ten. On average 32 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 23, and return around November 11. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 89% of winters and 16°F in 28%.

Spring: the chance of another night this cold after the date
Low90%80%70%60%50%40%30%20%10%
36°FMar 2Mar 8Mar 13Mar 18Mar 23Mar 26Mar 31Apr 5Apr 12
32°FFeb 14Feb 22Feb 27Mar 2Mar 7Mar 11Mar 15Mar 20Mar 26
28°F99% of yrsJan 26Feb 1Feb 8Feb 15Feb 20Feb 26Mar 3Mar 8Mar 16
24°F89% of yrsJan 4Jan 18Jan 26Jan 31Feb 4Feb 11Feb 20Feb 28Mar 7
20°F61% of yrsDec 30Jan 4Jan 13Jan 20Jan 26Jan 31Feb 3Feb 15Feb 26
16°F28% 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 27Nov 1Nov 4Nov 7Nov 11Nov 14Nov 18Nov 22Nov 29
32°FNov 5Nov 10Nov 15Nov 19Nov 23Nov 27Dec 1Dec 5Dec 14
28°F99% of yrsNov 14Nov 21Nov 27Dec 1Dec 4Dec 11Dec 19Dec 29Jan 6
24°F89% of yrsDec 1Dec 7Dec 15Dec 23Dec 30Jan 2Jan 7Jan 15Jan 28
20°F61% of yrsDec 14Dec 25Dec 31Jan 2Jan 6Jan 12Jan 17Jan 25Feb 5
16°F28% of yrstoo rare for a date

Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at Hattiesburg 5SW, 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 39475 →Compare Purvis with another place →

Weather by month in Purvis

July is the warmest month at Hattiesburg 5SW, MS, averaging 91°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 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 63% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 6,381 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 85% of the 96 Mississippi stations. 42% of them (2,661) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 977. Precipitation totals 64.5 inches a year, most in January (6.5") and least in October (3.5"); May to September bring 42% of it.

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Hattiesburg 5SW, MS
MonthHigh °FLow °FPrecip. in32°F nightNights ≤ 32°FGDD 50°F
Jan60386.598%11107
Feb64415.793%7149
Mar71485.963%2318
Apr78545.75%0476
May84624.50%0722
Jun90705.30%0888
Jul91726.40%0977
Aug91726.30%0975
Sep88674.80%0822
Oct79563.53%<1551
Nov69463.968%3255
Dec62406.094%9141

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Hattiesburg 5SW, MS (385 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, Hattiesburg Chain Municipal Airport, MS, 12 miles northeast of Purvis and 234 feet lower, has a last frost 1 day later (March 8), a first frost 8 days earlier (November 15), a season 9 days shorter.

Frost dates for 39401 (Hattiesburg) →

When it snows in Purvis, Mississippi

Measurable snow is rare here: only 2 of 28 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Purvis 2N, MS, 0.8 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

Planting calendar for 39475

What to do and when, from the 50% frost dates for Purvis, Mississippi
WhenWhat to do
December 27 – January 10Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out.
January 10 – January 24Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early.
February 7 – February 21Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil.
March 7 onwardTransplant tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, cucumbersThe average last freeze has passed — still watch the actual forecast.
by August 31Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops.
by November 9Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation.
November 23 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 39475 is 8 miles from Hattiesburg 5SW, MS, which stands at 385 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 2 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 39402 (Hattiesburg). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 39475 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