Photo: Dofftoubab · CC BY-SA 4.0Hardly any U.S. towns collect more precipitation than Heidelberg: 59 inches a year
Expect July afternoons of about 92°. In July, afternoons here are warmer than in 85% of U.S. towns. Since 1901–2000, the year has warmed by 0.5°, most of all in February. Garden planting can start around March 12; autumn frost returns near November 12.
A year in Heidelberg at a glance
Each month’s typical high and low, and what it brings.
What stands out about Heidelberg’s climate
Compared with towns across the U.S., with Heidelberg’s place in Mississippi beside it.
What a year in Heidelberg feels like
Typical highs and lows by season and by month, from NOAA’s 30-year normals.
About 244 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by March 12 and the first by November 12. Frost and day counts come from NOAA’s station at Laurel, MS, 17 miles from the town’s center, 120 ft lower.
The 2023 USDA map puts Heidelberg’s center in zone 8b: the coldest night of a typical winter, averaged over 1991–2020, reaches about 16°. 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 59 inches of rain a year
March is the wettest month and September the driest. Rain falls on about 118 days a year. Snow is rare: about 0.0" in a normal year at Laurel, MS, so most winters see none.
Rain + melted snow by month
Inches of water
Heating and cooling a home in Heidelberg
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 Laurel, MS.
Living with Heidelberg’s climate
What the numbers mean for a garden, a free afternoon and a bad-weather day.
244 frost-free days in zone 8b. The last frost comes by Mar 12 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 12.
Months with highs of 62–84° and lows of 40° or more: March, April, October and November.
Parks & trails →Of the yearly building losses FEMA expects in Heidelberg from natural hazards, river flooding is the largest share (27%); heat waves, cold waves, winter storms and ice storms together are 17%. Normals are averages; the hazards page covers the extremes.
Natural hazards →Heidelberg and similar climates
TownRatings has no climate map of the towns around Heidelberg yet.
Climates most like Heidelberg’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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heidelberg, MS | 36° | 92° | 59" | 0.0" |
| Andalusia, AL | 37° | 91° | 59" | 0.3" |
| Magalia, CA | 38° | 92° | 61" | 0.1" |
| Bastrop, LA | 35° | 93° | 57" | 0.0" |
| Jasper, TX | 39° | 93° | 57" | 0.1" |
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 Heidelberg averaged 0.5° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in February (+1.5°).
A smaller shift than in 97% 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 Heidelberg compares
Against 12,954 U.S. towns of 2,500 or more (one per 5 km climate cell), with Heidelberg’s place among Mississippi’s.
Heidelberg weather by month
Highs, lows and precipitation from NOAA’s grid at Heidelberg’s center; snow, wet days and snow on the ground from Laurel, MS. 1991–2020 normals.
| Month | High | Low | Rain + melt | Snow | Wet days | Snow on ground | 30-yr range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 59° | 36° | 5.7" | 0.0" | 11 | 0 | 40° – 55° |
| February | 63° | 40° | 5.5" | 0.0" | 10 | 0 | 42° – 60° |
| March | 71° | 45° | 6.0" | 0.0" | 10 | 0 | 51° – 66° |
| April | 77° | 51° | 5.4" | 0.0" | 9 | 0 | 60° – 69° |
| May | 84° | 60° | 4.2" | 0.0" | 9 | 0 | 69° – 75° |
| June | 90° | 68° | 5.1" | 0.0" | 11 | 0 | 76° – 82° |
| July | 92° | 70° | 5.5" | 0.0" | 13 | 0 | 78° – 83° |
| August | 91° | 70° | 4.7" | 0.0" | 11 | 0 | 77° – 84° |
| September | 87° | 64° | 3.8" | 0.0" | 8 | 0 | 73° – 81° |
| October | 78° | 52° | 3.9" | 0.0" | 6 | 0 | 61° – 71° |
| November | 68° | 42° | 4.2" | 0.0" | 8 | 0 | 50° – 60° |
| December | 61° | 38° | 5.5" | 0.0" | 11 | 0 | 41° – 58° |
| Year | 77° | 53° | 59.3" | 0.0" | 118 | 0 |
How much a month can swing
A normal is an average. February swings the most: from 1991 to 2020 its average ranged from 42° to 60°. July is the most reliable, staying within 5°.
Where Heidelberg’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 Heidelberg’s center.
- Snow: Laurel, MS.
- Frost, freezing nights, 90° and 100° days, heating and cooling: Laurel, MS, 17 miles from the town’s center, 120 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 Heidelberg’s climate
What is the weather like in Heidelberg?
A typical July afternoon reaches 92°, a January night drops to 36°, and snow is almost unheard of. Milder January nights than 83% of U.S. towns; hotter July afternoons than 85% of U.S. towns.
How cold does it get in Heidelberg in winter?
January nights average 36°. About 41 nights a year reach 32° or below. In the coldest January of the last 30 years the month averaged 40°.
How much snow does Heidelberg get?
About 0.0 inches in a normal winter at Laurel, MS, so most winters see none.
How hot does it get in Heidelberg?
July, with a typical high of 92° and a low of 70°. About 82 days a year reach 90° and 2 reach 100° (Laurel, MS).
When is the first and last frost in Heidelberg?
In half of years the last spring frost (32°) comes by March 12 and the first fall frost by November 12, about 244 frost-free days, at Laurel, MS.
What growing zone is Heidelberg in?
Zone 8b on the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map: the coldest night of a typical winter reaches about 16°.
What is the best time of year to visit Heidelberg?
By one simple rule (highs of 62–84° and lows of 40° or more), March, April, October and November. The rule is ours, not NOAA’s; the month table has the numbers to judge by.
Is Heidelberg getting warmer?
Yes: 1991–2020 averaged 0.5° warmer than 1901–2000 on NOAA’s grid. A smaller shift than 97% of U.S. towns.
Neighbors talk weather
Gardens, snow, and the best days of the year in Heidelberg.
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.