Bethel Presbyterian Church · Photo: Mthunter58 · CC BY-SA 3.0Few U.S. towns get more rain and snow than Alcorn State University: 58 inches a year
In July the day’s top temperature is typically 92°. Seasons differ by 55°, from the coldest nights to the warmest afternoons. Summer afternoons here are warmer than in 87% of U.S. towns. The heating season runs December to January: each of those months averages under 50°.
A year in Alcorn State University at a glance
Each month’s typical high and low, and what it brings.
What stands out about Alcorn State University’s climate
Compared with towns across the U.S., with Alcorn State University’s place in Mississippi beside it.
What a year in Alcorn State University feels like
Typical highs and lows by season and by month, from NOAA’s 30-year normals.
About 242 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by March 13 and the first by November 10. Frost and day counts come from NOAA’s station at St Joseph 3 N, LA, 7 miles from the town’s center, 150 ft lower.
The 2023 USDA map puts Alcorn State University’s center in zone 8b: the coldest night of a typical winter, averaged over 1991–2020, reaches about 19°. Plant labels use the zone; frost dates tell you when to plant.
Freezing nights by month
Average nights at or below 32°
90° days by month
Average days at 90° or more
About 58 inches of rain a year
January is the wettest month and September the driest. Rain falls on about 94 days a year. Snow is rare: about 0.0" in a normal year at St Joseph 3 N, LA, so most winters see none.
Rain + melted snow by month
Inches of water
Heating and cooling a home in Alcorn State University
48% of the work is heating, so air conditioning is the bigger bill. Months averaging under 55° run from December through February.
Degree days add up how far each day’s average falls below (heating) or rises above (cooling) 65° over a year. NOAA normals at St Joseph 3 N, LA.
Living with Alcorn State University’s climate
What the numbers mean for a garden, a free afternoon and a bad-weather day.
242 frost-free days in zone 8b. The last frost comes by Mar 13 in half of years, so many gardeners wait a week or two past that to set out tomatoes. The first fall frost comes by Nov 10.
Months with highs of 62–84° and lows of 40° or more: February, March, April, May, October and November. 0.0 miles of trails are waiting.
Parks & trails →Of the yearly building losses FEMA expects in Alcorn State University from natural hazards, river flooding is the largest share (34%); heat waves, cold waves, winter storms and ice storms together are 13%. Normals are averages; the hazards page covers the extremes.
Natural hazards →Alcorn State University and similar climates
TownRatings has no climate map of the towns around Alcorn State University yet.
Climates most like Alcorn State University’s, farther away
TownRatings’ own comparison of NOAA 1991–2020 normals, not a NOAA product: places of 5,000+ at least 150 miles away, one per state, closest on January low, July high, precipitation and snow.
| Town | Jan. low | July high | Precip. | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alcorn State University, MS | 37° | 92° | 58" | 0.0" |
| Enterprise, AL | 38° | 91° | 58" | 0.0" |
| Jasper, TX | 39° | 93° | 57" | 0.1" |
| Magalia, CA | 38° | 92° | 61" | 0.1" |
| Tallahassee, FL | 40° | 92° | 56" | 0.0" |
Temperatures and precipitation come from NOAA’s 5 km grid; snow and day counts from the stations named on this page.
Warmer than it used to be
The last 30 years in Alcorn State University averaged 0.5° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in February (+1.1°).
A smaller shift than in 98% of U.S. towns.
Change by month
The two periods overlap (1991–2000 is in both), which makes the gap a little smaller than it would be between separate periods.
How Alcorn State University compares
Against 12,954 U.S. towns of 2,500 or more (one per 5 km climate cell), with Alcorn State University’s place among Mississippi’s.
Alcorn State University weather by month
Highs, lows and precipitation from NOAA’s grid at Alcorn State University’s center; snow, wet days and snow on the ground from St Joseph 3 N, LA. 1991–2020 normals.
| Month | High | Low | Rain + melt | Snow | Wet days | Snow on ground | 30-yr range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 58° | 37° | 6.2" | 0.0" | 10 | 0 | 42° – 55° |
| February | 63° | 41° | 5.3" | 0.0" | 9 | 0 | 43° – 60° |
| March | 70° | 47° | 5.5" | 0.0" | 9 | 0 | 53° – 67° |
| April | 77° | 54° | 5.2" | 0.0" | 7 | 0 | 60° – 70° |
| May | 84° | 62° | 4.4" | 0.0" | 7 | 0 | 70° – 76° |
| June | 90° | 69° | 4.5" | 0.0" | 9 | 0 | 77° – 83° |
| July | 92° | 72° | 4.5" | 0.0" | 9 | 0 | 79° – 84° |
| August | 92° | 71° | 4.3" | 0.0" | 8 | 0 | 77° – 85° |
| September | 88° | 65° | 3.8" | 0.0" | 6 | 0 | 74° – 81° |
| October | 79° | 54° | 4.0" | 0.0" | 6 | 0 | 63° – 73° |
| November | 68° | 45° | 4.6" | 0.0" | 7 | 0 | 51° – 62° |
| December | 60° | 39° | 5.6" | 0.0" | 9 | 0 | 41° – 58° |
| Year | 77° | 55° | 57.8" | 0.0" | 94 | 0 |
How much a month can swing
A normal is an average. February swings the most: from 1991 to 2020 its average ranged from 43° to 60°. July is the most reliable, staying within 5°.
Where Alcorn State University’s numbers come from
Normals are 30-year averages, not a forecast. How TownRatings reads climate data →
- Temperatures and precipitation: NOAA’s gridded 1991–2020 normals for the 5 km cell at Alcorn State University’s center.
- Snow: St Joseph 3 N, LA.
- Frost, freezing nights, 90° and 100° days, heating and cooling: St Joseph 3 N, LA, 7 miles from the town’s center, 150 ft lower; the nearest station that passes our checks for distance, height and agreement with the grid.
- Growing zone: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, 2023. USDA Agricultural Research Service and PRISM Group, Oregon State University, prism.oregonstate.edu/phzm, accessed 8 Oct 2026.
- Then and now: NOAA’s gridded normals for 1901–2000 at the same cell.
- Storms and extremes: FEMA National Risk Index (expected annual losses to buildings).
Common questions about Alcorn State University’s climate
What is the weather like in Alcorn State University?
A typical July afternoon reaches 92°, a January night drops to 37°, and snow is almost unheard of. Milder January nights than 85% of U.S. towns; hotter July afternoons than 87% of U.S. towns.
How cold does it get in Alcorn State University in winter?
January nights average 37°. About 33 nights a year reach 32° or below. In the coldest January of the last 30 years the month averaged 42°.
How much snow does Alcorn State University get?
About 0.0 inches in a normal winter at St Joseph 3 N, LA, so most winters see none.
How hot does it get in Alcorn State University?
July, with a typical high of 92° and a low of 72°. About 108 days a year reach 90° and 4 reach 100° (St Joseph 3 N, LA).
When is the first and last frost in Alcorn State University?
In half of years the last spring frost (32°) comes by March 13 and the first fall frost by November 10, about 242 frost-free days, at St Joseph 3 N, LA.
What growing zone is Alcorn State University in?
Zone 8b on the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map: the coldest night of a typical winter reaches about 19°.
What is the best time of year to visit Alcorn State University?
By one simple rule (highs of 62–84° and lows of 40° or more), February, March, April, May, October and November. The rule is ours, not NOAA’s; the month table has the numbers to judge by.
Is Alcorn State University getting warmer?
Yes: 1991–2020 averaged 0.5° warmer than 1901–2000 on NOAA’s grid. A smaller shift than 98% of U.S. towns.
Neighbors talk weather
Gardens, snow, and the best days of the year in Alcorn State University.
Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 and 1901–2000; USDA/PRISM 2023 hardiness zones; FEMA National Risk Index. Today’s forecast: National Weather Service.