Frost Dates for 39702 — Columbus, Mississippi

Half of springs at Columbus, MS see their last 32°F night by March 13; only one in ten is past it by February 19, and one in ten still has one after April 2. Planting tender crops after March 22 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after March 27 20%, and after April 2 10%. The 20 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 64% of the 96 Mississippi stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by November 12 in half of years, as early as October 30 one year in ten, and holds off past December 1 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 15 days later, around November 27; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is March 17, 16 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 244 days in a typical year, longer than at 59% of the 96 Mississippi stations; it reaches 271 days one year in ten and falls short of 219 one year in ten. On average 50 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 30, and return around November 2. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 97% of winters and 16°F in 39%.

July is the warmest month at Columbus, MS, averaging 94°F by day and 73°F at night; January is the coldest at 56°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 71% of years and April still brings one in 12% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 6,198 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 72% of the 96 Mississippi stations. 41% of them (2,556) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 1,031. Precipitation totals 56.7 inches a year, most in April (5.8") and least in September (3.2"); May to September bring 37% of it.

The nearest other station, Vernon, AL, 23 miles northeast of Columbus and 153 feet higher, has a last frost 16 days later (March 29), a first frost 7 days earlier (November 5), a season 22 days shorter.

Measurable snow is rare here: only 5 of 28 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Columbus, MS, 1.7 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

ZIP 39702 is 2 miles from Columbus, MS, which stands at 145 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 3 other ZIP codes share the station. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 39702 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.