Frost Dates for 39654 — Monticello, Mississippi

Half of springs at Monticello, MS see their last 32°F night by March 12; only one in ten is past it by February 22, and one in ten still has one after April 3. Planting tender crops after March 21 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after March 27 20%, and after April 3 10%. The 22 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 85% 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 10 in half of years, as early as October 23 one year in ten, and holds off past December 3 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 12 days later, around November 22; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is March 17, 17 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 242 days in a typical year, longer than at 54% of the 96 Mississippi stations; it reaches 270 days one year in ten and falls short of 212 one year in ten. On average 45 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 15 days longer, to about March 27, and return around November 1. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 97% of winters and 16°F in 40%.

July is the warmest month at Monticello, MS, averaging 96°F by day and 71°F at night; January is the coldest at 62°F and 36°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from December to February (a 90% chance or more). From May to September the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, March still brings one in 74% of years and April still brings one in 12% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 6,663 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 93% of the 96 Mississippi stations. 42% of them (2,786) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 1,040. Precipitation totals 60.5 inches a year, most in January (6.0") and least in September (3.6"); May to September bring 38% of it.

The nearest other station, Brookhaven City, MS, 20 miles west of Monticello and 244 feet higher, has a last frost 5 days later (March 17), a first frost 2 days later (November 12).

Measurable snow is rare here: only 3 of 28 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Monticello, MS, 1.1 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

ZIP 39654 is 1 mile from Monticello, MS, which stands at 191 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 3 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 39641 (Jayess). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 39654 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.