Does it snow in Mississippi?
Does it snow in Mississippi? The short answer is yes! Although, we are sure: you want to know more than that.
Known as The Magnolia State and The Hospitality State, Mississippi, the 32nd-largest state by area and the 35th-most populous in the United States, stands as one of the leading states in advanced manufacturing, forestry, agriculture, and other similar industries, such as farm-raised catfish, cotton, and pulpwood.
The etymological root of the name Mississippi comes from the word ᒥᓯ-ᓰᐱ, which is of Ojibwa origin, an indigenous language from the Algonquian language family of North America. This Ojibwa word (ᒥᓯ-ᓰᐱ) means Great River and refers to the Mississippi River.
Like most states in the southern United States, Mississippi was particularly affected by the Civil War. Even for several decades after the war, racial segregation continued in Mississippi. However, this questionable social attitude allowed the birth of blues and jazz: both genres loaded with the African cultural spirit still in force in the south of the United States.
Over the years, the cultural and ethnic diversity allowed the birth of musical traditions unique in Mississippi. There, not only jazz and blues were born, but gospel music, country music, and the legendary rock and roll.
In short, Mississippi is one of the jewels of the South of the United States. If you consider yourself a lover of American history or the most influential musical genres in this country, this state is the ideal one for you.
Visit Mississippi and enjoy its many tourist attractions, such as Windsor Ruins, Deer Island, Natchez Trace Parkway, and Vicksburg National Military Park, or discover the hidden history in the many historical sites scattered throughout some Mississippi towns, such as Oxford, Jackson, Clarksdale, Natchez, and Biloxi.
Snow in Mississippi? ❄
Like most states in the Deep South of the United States, Mississippi's climate is greatly affected by warm air currents from the Gulf of Mexico. The latter, coupled with Mississippi's modest land area and low elevation, results in one of the most stable (albeit quite stormy) climates in the United States.
Across its 82 component counties, Mississippi exhibits the same type of climate: humid subtropical (Cfa)
Although the climatological differences between the south and north of Mississippi are not pronounced enough to be considered part of a new type or subtype of climate, they are enough to allow snowstorms to form more frequently in the north of the state.
In this sense, snowstorms are not a phenomenon unrelated to the history of Mississippi. Indeed, this state would experience a severe snowstorm on New Year’s Eve, 1963. That night, in Meridian, the county seat of Lauderdale County, located in east-central Mississippi, up to 15 inches of snow was recorded.
Thus, answering the question at hand. Yes! It snows in Mississippi, especially in the far north of the state. Although, it is also possible to see, under exceptional cases, snowstorms in counties much closer to the center of Mississippi.
The climate of Mississippi ⛅
General characteristics
According to the Köppen climate classification, every one of the 82 counties that make up Mississippi exhibits a humid subtropical climate (Cfa) with slight differences.
This climatological uniformity is reflected in the behavior of the seasons in Mississippi: summers are always long, hot, and humid, while winters are short and pleasantly warm, especially in the regions adjacent to the Mississippi Sound, where temperatures are significantly higher than the northern end of the State.
On average, mean temperatures range from 81°F (July) to 42°F (January). However, this difference can increase if the northern and southern limits of the state are taken as a reference.
As far as precipitation levels are concerned, Mississippi's annual rainfall ranges from 50 to 61 inches. Generally, the driest part of the state is in the northwestern region (Clarksdale, Coahoma County), while the wettest area is in the extreme south of Mississippi (Biloxi, Harrison County).
Like the rest of the coastal cities in the extreme south of Mississippi, Biloxi has an overly humid climate, so it is not surprising that its climatological characteristics are also present in nearby towns.
Likewise, due to its proximity to the Gulf of Mexico, Mississippi is one of the state most vulnerable to the onslaught of hurricanes, tornadoes, and electrical storms.
Throughout its history, Mississippi has been hit by devastating hurricanes such as Hurricane Camille (1969) and Hurricane Katrina (2005), as well as deadly tornadoes such as The Great Natchez Tornado (1840).
Technical characteristics
Some of the following technical characteristics have been calculated by averaging climatological data for some county seats of Missouri (Iuka, Hernando, Woodville, Pascagoula, Greenville, and De Kalb.)
- Climate types (Köppen climate classification):
- Humid subtropical (Cfa)
- Average maximum temperatures in winter: 59.71 °F (15.3 °C).
- Average maximum temperatures in spring: 81.39 °F (27.4 °C).
- Average maximum temperatures in fall: 71.04 °F (21.6 °C).
- Average maximum temperatures in summer: 89.17 °F (31.7 °C).
- Average minimum temperatures in winter: 41.38 °F (5.2 °C).
- Average minimum temperatures in spring: 62.44 °F (16.9 °C).
- Average minimum temperatures in fall: 51.54 °F (10.8 °C).
- Average minimum temperatures in summer: 71.06 °F (21.7 °C).
- Range of the annual rainfall: 50-61 inches (127-154.9 cm).
- Season most prone to hurricanes: summer (final stage) and autumn.
- Average number of tornadoes per year: 27.
When does it snow in Mississippi? 🌨
Does it snow in Mississippi in November?
Yes, it might snow in November. Though hopefully only in the far north of Mississippi.
Does it snow in Mississippi in December?
Yes, it might snow in December. Once winter sets in, northern Mississippi counties experience snowfall near or slightly above an inch of accumulation. Likewise, occasional snowfall is also possible in central Mississippi.
Does it snow in Mississippi in January?
Yes, it does! January is Mississippi's snowiest month. Under ideal conditions, Lafayette, Benton, and Tippah County can see more than two inches of snow accumulation on average.
Does it snow in Mississippi in February?
Yes, it does! Compared to January, the average snow accumulation decreased by about 30% in February. Despite that, snowfalls are still measurable in the half center-north of Mississippi.
Does it snow in Mississippi in March?
Yes, it might snow in March. However, even under the best conditions, snowfall this month will average no more than a half-inch accumulation, even in far northern Mississippi.
Where does it snow in Mississippi? 🌨
Below, we present a map of the territorial division of the state of Mississippi in which the distribution of snowfall in the eighty-two county seats that make up the state is roughly exemplified:
- In this case, the darker the blue color, the higher the average snow accumulation for the county in its snowiest month (January).
- This map is not an exact definition but rather an approximation of the behavior of snowfall in Mississippi since only its administrative centers are taken into account and not all the cities and towns that make up the county at the time of its creation.
How much does it snow in Mississippi? 🌨
Next, we expose a comparison chart of the average snow accumulation throughout a sliding 31-day period (centered on the day in question) in the eighty-two county seats of Mississippi:
County seat | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
Oxford | 2,5 | 2,2 | 0,3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,1 | 1,3 |
Ashland | 2,1 | 2,1 | 0,4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,1 | 1 |
Ripley | 2 | 1,9 | 0,3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,1 | 1 |
Senatobia | 1,8 | 1,9 | 0,4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,1 | 0,9 |
Tunica | 1,8 | 1,8 | 0,4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,1 | 1,1 |
Water Valley | 1,8 | 1,6 | 0,2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,9 |
Corinth | 1,7 | 1,4 | 0,2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,8 |
Hernando | 1,7 | 1,9 | 0,4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,1 | 0,8 |
Pontotoc | 1,7 | 1,5 | 0,2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,7 |
Booneville | 1,7 | 1,5 | 0,2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,8 |
New Albany | 1,7 | 1,5 | 0,2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,9 |
Ackerman | 1,6 | 1 | 0,2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,5 |
Batesville | 1,6 | 1,5 | 0,2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,8 |
Iuka | 1,6 | 1,3 | 0,2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,8 |
Walthall | 1,6 | 1,1 | 0,1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,6 |
Pittsboro | 1,5 | 1,1 | 0,1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,7 |
Winona | 1,5 | 1 | 0,1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,6 |
Charleston | 1,4 | 1,2 | 0,2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,7 |
Louisville | 1,4 | 0,8 | 0,2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,5 |
Kosciusko | 1,3 | 0,9 | 0,1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,4 |
Carrollton | 1,3 | 0,8 | 0,1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,6 |
Houston | 1,3 | 0,8 | 0,1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,6 |
Clarksdale | 1,3 | 1,4 | 0,2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,1 | 0,8 |
Grenada | 1,3 | 0,9 | 0,1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,6 |
Tupelo | 1,3 | 1 | 0,1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,6 |
Marks | 1,3 | 1,3 | 0,2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,7 |
Rosedale | 1,2 | 1,3 | 0,2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,8 |
West Point | 1,2 | 0,7 | 0,1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,4 |
Lexington | 1,2 | 0,9 | 0,1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,5 |
Fulton | 1,2 | 0,7 | 0,1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,5 |
De Kalb | 1,2 | 0,5 | 0,1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,4 |
Philadelphia | 1,2 | 0,6 | 0,1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,4 |
Starkville | 1,2 | 0,7 | 0,1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,4 |
Indianola | 1,2 | 0,9 | 0,1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,6 |
Yazoo City | 1,2 | 0,8 | 0,1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,4 |
Hazlehurst | 1,1 | 0,5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,2 |
Lucedale | 1,1 | 0,4 | 0,1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,3 |
Belzoni | 1,1 | 0,8 | 0,1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,5 |
Meridian | 1,1 | 0,4 | 0,1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,2 |
Greenwood | 1,1 | 0,7 | 0,1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,5 |
Decatur | 1,1 | 0,4 | 0,1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,3 |
Brandon | 1,1 | 0,5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,3 |
Rolling Fork | 1,1 | 0,7 | 0,1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,5 |
Greenville | 1,1 | 0,9 | 0,1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,6 |
Liberty | 1 | 0,3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,1 |
Collins | 1 | 0,3 | 0,1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,1 |
Meadville | 1 | 0,5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,2 |
Mayersville | 1 | 0,7 | 0,1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,4 |
Bay Springs | 1 | 0,3 | 0,1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,2 |
Prentiss | 1 | 0,3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,1 |
Carthage | 1 | 0,5 | 0,1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,3 |
Brookhaven | 1 | 0,4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,2 |
Columbus | 1 | 0,5 | 0,1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,3 |
Canton | 1 | 0,5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,3 |
Macon | 1 | 0,4 | 0,1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,3 |
Magnolia | 1 | 0,3 | 0,1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,1 |
Forest | 1 | 0,4 | 0,1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,3 |
Mendenhall | 1 | 0,4 | 0,1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,2 |
Raleigh | 1 | 0,4 | 0,1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,2 |
Vicksburg | 1 | 0,7 | 0,1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,3 |
Port Gibson | 0,9 | 0,6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,2 |
Quitman | 0,9 | 0,3 | 0,1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,2 |
Jackson | 0,9 | 0,4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,2 |
Fayette | 0,9 | 0,5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,2 |
Laurel | 0,9 | 0,3 | 0,1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,1 |
Monticello | 0,9 | 0,3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,1 |
Holly Springs | 0,9 | 0,3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,1 |
Aberdeen | 0,9 | 0,4 | 0,1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,3 |
Woodville | 0,9 | 0,4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,1 |
Natchez | 0,8 | 0,5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,1 |
New Augusta | 0,8 | 0,2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,1 |
Tylertown | 0,8 | 0,2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,1 |
Waynesboro | 0,8 | 0,2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,1 |
Hattiesburg | 0,7 | 0,1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,1 |
Leakesville | 0,7 | 0,2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,1 |
Purvis | 0,7 | 0,2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,1 |
Columbia | 0,7 | 0,2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,1 |
Poplarville | 0,6 | 0,1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,1 |
Wiggins | 0,6 | 0,1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0,1 |
Bay Saint Louis | 0,3 | 0,1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Biloxi | 0,3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Pascagoula | 0,3 | 0,1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
The numbers shown in the table above represent inches.
Related post → Does it snow in United States of America?
Source → WeatherSpark.