Frost Dates for 39503 — Gulfport, Mississippi

Half of springs at Gulfport - Biloxi Airport, MS see their last 32°F night by February 23; only one in ten is past it by January 25, and one in ten still has one after March 16. Planting tender crops after March 5 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after March 11 20%, and after March 16 10%. The 21 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 73% 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 December 3 in half of years, as early as November 12 one year in ten, and holds off past January 5 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 28 days later, around December 31; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is March 5, 11 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 287 days in a typical year, longer than at 97% of the 96 Mississippi stations; it reaches 323 days one year in ten and falls short of 255 one year in ten. On average 16 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 14 days longer, to about March 9, and return around November 18. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 60% of winters and 16°F in 4%.

July is the warmest month at Gulfport - Biloxi Airport, MS, averaging 90°F by day and 75°F at night; January is the coldest at 61°F and 42°F. A freezing night is all but certain in 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 71% of years and March still brings one in 38% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 6,931 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 99% of the 96 Mississippi stations. 42% of them (2,923) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 1,012. Precipitation totals 62.7 inches a year, most in July (7.2") and least in October (3.7"); May to September bring 49% of it.

The nearest other station, Gulfport Naval Ctr, MS, 6 miles south of Gulfport, has a last frost 5 days earlier (February 18), a first frost 11 days later (December 14), a season 13 days longer.

Measurable snow is rare here: only 2 of 17 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Gulfport Naval Ctr, MS, 6 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

ZIP 39503 is 4 miles from Gulfport - Biloxi Airport, MS, which stands at 42 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 39503 in zone 9a, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged 20 to 25°F (-6.7 to -3.9°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.