Frost Dates for 39553 — Gautier, Mississippi

Half of springs at Pascagoula Lott International Airport, MS see their last 32°F night by March 1; only one in ten is past it by February 6, and one in ten still has one after March 24. Planting tender crops after March 12 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after March 17 20%, and after March 24 10%. The 23 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 92% 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 November 24 in half of years, as early as November 5 one year in ten, and holds off past December 22 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 14 days later, around December 8; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is March 11, 13 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 269 days in a typical year, longer than at 95% of the 96 Mississippi stations; it reaches 302 days one year in ten and falls short of 243 one year in ten. On average 27 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 18, and return around November 11. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 77% of winters and 16°F in 7%.

July is the warmest month at Pascagoula Lott International Airport, MS, averaging 91°F by day and 73°F at night; January is the coldest at 63°F and 41°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 86% of years and March still brings one in 51% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 6,758 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 95% of the 96 Mississippi stations. 42% of them (2,840) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 997. Precipitation totals 61.8 inches a year, most in August (7.9") and least in October (3.7"); May to September bring 51% of it.

The nearest other station, Pascagoula 3 NE, MS, 10 miles east of Gautier, has a last frost 7 days later (March 8), a first frost 5 days earlier (November 19), a season 13 days shorter.

Measurable snow is rare here: only 1 of 15 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Vancleave, MS, 5.9 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

ZIP 39553 is 8 miles from Pascagoula Lott International Airport, MS, which stands at 18 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 39565 (Vancleave). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 39553 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.