Frost Dates for 39525 — Diamondhead, Mississippi

Half of springs at Waveland, MS see their last 32°F night by February 21; only one in ten is past it by January 25, and one in ten still has one after March 18. Planting tender crops after March 4 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after March 11 20%, and after March 18 10%. The 25 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 99% 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 13 one year in ten, and holds off past January 2 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 22 days later, around December 25; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is March 6, 12 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 253 one year in ten. On average 18 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 10, and return around November 19. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 63% of winters and 16°F in 3%.

August is the warmest month at Waveland, MS, averaging 89°F by day and 74°F at night; January is the coldest at 59°F and 42°F. From April to October the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, February still brings one in 74% of years and March still brings one in 34% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 6,497 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 92% of the 96 Mississippi stations. 42% of them (2,708) have built up by the end of June, and August adds the most, 976. Precipitation totals 65.0 inches a year, most in July (7.7") and least in October (3.5"); May to September bring 49% of it.

The nearest other station, Gulfport Naval Ctr, MS, 15 miles east of Diamondhead, has a last frost 3 days earlier (February 18), a first frost 11 days later (December 14), a season 13 days longer.

Measurable snow is rare here: only 0 of 19 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Waveland, MS, 6.1 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

ZIP 39525 is 6 miles from Waveland, MS, which stands at 8 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 4 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 39520 (Bay St Louis). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 39525 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.