When you think about Mississippi, you’re most probably imagining a warm state, one with hot, humid summers and abundant rainfall. And, you’re not wrong there. In fact, this Michigan girl could adjust to Mississippi weather quite easily! Well, at least the humidity in the summer.
The Magnolia State indeed has a humid subtropical climate, so its summers are long, hot, and humid while its winters are mild. In fact, hot winters and warm Christmases have been long-standing jokes around these parts for years. I could get used to a mild winter too!
According to World Population Review, Mississippi had an average temperature of 63.6 degrees Fahrenheit (around 17.55 degrees Celsius) from 1901 to 2024. Its average temperature in 2024 was 66.6 degrees Fahrenheit (about 19 degrees Celsius), with an average high of 75.3 degrees Fahrenheit (24 degrees Celsius) and an average low of 55.5 degrees Fahrenheit (13 degrees Celsius). Nationally, it ranks fifth in the hottest states list of 2025, following Florida, Louisiana, Texas, and Hawaii in first to fourth places, respectively.
If you’re visiting the state, it makes sense to know what temperature you should expect because you’ll have to prepare your outfits accordingly. So, if you’re wondering “how cold does it get in Mississippi?”, here’s the answer.
(Photo Credit: Britannica Jackson, Mississippi)
Coldest Temperature Ever Recorded in Mississippi
On January 30, 1966, the Magnolia State recorded its lowest temperature at -19 degrees Fahrenheit (around -28 degrees Celsius) in Corinth, according to data from the State Climate Extremes Committee (SCEC) of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
It’s a far cry from the lowest temperature ever recorded in the country (-80 degrees Fahrenheit or -62 degrees Celsius) or in the Lower 48 (-70 degrees Fahrenheit or around -57 degrees Celsius). But for Mississippi, this is already extremely cold.
Coldest Temperatures in Select Mississippi Cities
To give you an idea about how cold the different parts of the state can get, let’s take a look at the lowest temperature recorded for several of its cities. Below is a list of the all-time low temperatures for Jackson and other major cities in the state.
Table 1. Lowest Temperatures Ever Recorded for Major Mississippi Cities
| City | Lowest Temperature (℉ (℃ )) | Date Recorded |
| Corinth | -19 (-28.33) | January 30, 1966 |
| Oxford | -13 (-25.0) | January 21, 1985 |
| Vicksburg | -12 (-24.44) | February 2, 1951 |
| Tupelo | -12 (-24.44) | January 30,1966 |
| Hernando | -12 (-24.44) | January 12, 1918 |
| Sardis | -8 (-22.22) | February 2, 1951 |
| Clarksdale | -8 (-22.22) | January 12, 1918 |
| Meridian | -6 (-21.11) | February 13, 1899 |
| Jackson | -5 (-20.56) | January 27, 1940 |
| Greenwood | -3 (-19.44) | February 3, 1951 |
| Waynesboro | – 2 (-18.89) | February 13, 1899 |
| Greenville | – 2 (-18-89) | February 2, 1951 |
| Hattiesburg | -1 (-18.33) | February 13, 1899 |
| Poplarville | 3 (-16.11) | January 21, 2985 |
| Waveland | 6 (-14.44) | January 22, 1985 |
| Biloxi | 1 (-17.22) | February 12, 1899 |
Source: Clarion Ledger
Average Fall & Winter Temperatures in Mississippi
When autumn comes around, temperatures start to dip and continue to fall throughout winter. In the state, fall and winter temperatures range from the 40s to the 70s.
Table 2. Average Fall and Winter Temperatures (℉ (℃ )) in Mississippi (1991-2020)
| Jackson | Biloxi | Gulfport | Hattiesburg | Tupelo | |
| Autumn or Fall | 66.2 (19) | 70.0 (21.11) | 69.6 (20.89) | 67.5 (19.72) | 64.3 (17.94) |
| Winter | 49.0 (9.44) | 53.7 (12) | 53.8 (12.11) | 50.8 (10.44) | 45.5 (7.5) |
Source: NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI)
Below is a sample of the average temperatures in Jackson, Biloxi, Gulfport, Hattiesburg, and Tupelo during the fall and winter months, i.e., September to February. The coldest month statewide is January.
Table 3. Average Monthly Fall and Winter Temperatures (℉ (℃ )) in Five Major Mississippi Cities (1991-2020)
| Jackson | Biloxi | Gulfport | Hattiesburg | Tupelo | |
| September | 77.7 (25.39) | 79.2 (26.22) | 79.2 (26.22) | 77.4 (25.22) | 75.5 (24.17) |
| October | 67.0 (19.44) | 70.5 (21.39) | 70.0 (21.11) | 67.7 (19.83) | 64.4 (18) |
| November | 55.9 (13.28) | 60.2 (15.67) | 59.6 (15.33) | 57.5 (14.17) | 53.0 (11.67) |
| December | 49.5 (9.72) | 54.0 (12.22) | 54.0 (12.22) | 51.1 (10.61) | 45.9 (7.72) |
| January | 47.4 (8.56) | 51.7 (10.94) | 51.8 (11) | 48.8 (9.33) | 43.4 (6.33) |
| February | 51.4 (10.78) | 55.2 (12.89) | 55.5 (13.06) | 52.6 (11.44) | 47.3 (8.5) |
Source: NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI)
Mississippi and the Cold
While the Magnolia State is characterized by the absence of severe cold in winter, rarely frozen ground, and typically short cold spells, temperatures have dropped to -16 degrees Fahrenheit (around -27 degrees Celsius) over 100 days each year and routinely drop to zero or lower once every five years, on average, according to the Mississippi State University Department of Geosciences. Freezing temperature also reaches the Gulf coast nearly every winter.
Arctic Outbreaks
According to the National Weather Service (NWS), an Arctic Outbreak is a very cold air mass that occurs annually and usually originates in Siberia before crossing over the north pole into Canada and the lower United States. Most Arctic Outbreaks don’t reach the Gulf South, except for the strongest ones. This typically happens every four to five years, on average.
When an Arctic Outbreak affects an area, it typically has a huge impact, including the following:
- Bursting of unprotected pipes,
- Increased risk of structural fires due to faulty application of heating devices,
- Increased risk of carbon monoxide poisoning from inadequate ventilation of fuel-based heating device,
- Large fish kills in shallow estuaries, and
- Major agricultural losses to tropical foliage, citrus trees, and seasonal strawberry crops.
In the Gulf Coast region, Arctic Outbreaks have similar economic impacts as a Category One hurricane impact.
Here are some of the notable Arctic Outbreaks that affected the Gulfport/Biloxi area:
| Date | Temperature (℉ (℃ )) |
| January 11, 1962 | 10 (-12.22) |
| December 13, 1962 | 10 (-12.22)/ 32 (0) |
| January 24, 1963 | 9 (-12.78)/30 (-1.11) |
| December 24, 1963 | 20 (-6.67) |
| January 11, 1982 | 8 (-13.33) |
| December 25, 1983 | 11 (-11.67)/28 (-2.22) |
| December 30-31, 1983 | 16 (-8.89)/31 (-0.56) on the 30th 16 (-8.89)/44 (6.67) on the 31st |
| January 21, 1985 | 4 (-15.56)/29 (-1.67) |
| December 23-24, 1989 | 9 (-12.78) |
| February 4-5, 1996 | 15 (-9.44) |
| January 5, 1999 | 22 (-5.56) |
| January 2, 2001 | 22 (-5.56) |
| January 3-4, 2002 | 23 (-5) |
| January 8-11, 2010 | 18 (-7.78) to 20 (-6.67) |
| January 30, 2014 | 20 (-6.67) |
Source: National Weather Service