Frost dates 2026–2027

Frost dates for Columbus, Mississippi

Median (50% chance) dates of the last and first 32°F frost, from NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at Columbus, 3.1 mi away (close match).

Last spring frostMar 13
First fall frostNov 12
244 frost-free days
Last spring frostMar 131 year in 10 after Apr 2
First fall frostNov 121 year in 10 by Oct 30
Growing season244 daysbetween median 32°F dates
Hardiness zoneZone 8b15 to 20°F average extreme low

Checking current alerts… View NWS forecast and alerts.

Will it freeze in Columbus in the next 7 nights?

No overnight lows at or below 32°F are forecast in Columbus during the next 7 nights in the available NWS frost forecast.

Tonight: forecast low 46°F. Above 36°F.

NWS forecast period: Thu, Nov 5, 6:00 PM CST to Fri, Nov 6, 6:00 AM CST.

2 of the next 7 nights are forecast at 36°F or colder, cold enough for frost on exposed plants.

Overnight lows from the National Weather Service forecast for this location. This covers the available forecast window, not the first freeze of the whole season. Frost can form above 32°F on clear, calm nights.

Frost and freeze probabilities

Freeze dates shift from year to year. Spring percentages describe the chance of a freeze after the stated date; fall percentages describe the chance of a freeze by that date. The 10% spring date is the cautious one: a later freeze happens about 1 year in 10.

These dates describe historical probabilities, not this year’s forecast or the earliest and latest possible freezes. Different weather stations or probability thresholds can produce different published dates for the same city.

Average first hard freeze in Columbus

The median first fall hard-freeze date (28°F) is November 27, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at Columbus. This is the 50% probability date, not a forecast for this year.

TemperatureLast spring date
90% · 50% · 10% chance of a later freeze
First fall date
10% · 50% · 90% chance of an earlier freeze
Season
36°F frost possible Mar 9 · Mar 30 · Apr 16 Oct 19 · Nov 2 · Nov 17 218 days
32°F freeze Feb 19 · Mar 13 · Apr 2 Oct 30 · Nov 12 · Dec 1 244 days
28°F hard freeze Jan 30 · Feb 26 · Mar 17 Nov 7 · Nov 27 · Dec 23 273 days
NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00221880. How to read these probabilities.

Average high temperature by month

1991–2020 normals at Columbus

Average low temperature by month

Months with lows near or below freezing carry frost risk

Where these frost dates come from

The frost dates for Columbus, MS come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: Columbus (station USC00221880, elevation 145 ft), 3.1 mi from Columbus. Local conditions (valleys, hilltops, distance to water, city heat) can shift frost dates by days or weeks. The hardiness zone is from the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (USDA ARS and Oregon State University PRISM). See our methodology.

Frost dates near Columbus

CityDistanceLast spring frostFirst fall frost
West Point, MS 16 mi Mar 23 Nov 8
Starkville, MS 24 mi Mar 23 Nov 8
Amory, MS 33 mi Mar 29 Nov 5
Louisville, MS 46 mi Mar 21 Nov 13
Northport, AL 50 mi Mar 18 Nov 10
Hamilton, AL 50 mi Apr 11 Oct 27
Tuscaloosa, AL 54 mi Mar 18 Nov 10
Tupelo, MS 56 mi Mar 21 Nov 10
Pontotoc, MS 62 mi Mar 28 Nov 8
Saltillo, MS 63 mi Mar 21 Nov 10

Frequently asked questions

When is the last frost in Columbus?

On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in Columbus is around March 13. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after April 2, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after February 19.

When is the first frost in Columbus?

The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around November 12. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by October 30 and a 90% chance by December 1.

Can it frost in Columbus after the last frost date?

Yes. Frost can form on clear, calm nights even when the air stays above 32°F. Temperatures of 36°F or lower, cold enough for frost on exposed plants, have a 50% chance of occurring after March 30.

What growing zone is Columbus?

Columbus is in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 8b (average annual extreme minimum temperature 15 to 20°F), based on the 2023 USDA map for ZIP code 39705. See growing zones in Mississippi.

More: all Mississippi frost dates · Mississippi growing zones · frost vs. freeze