Does It Snow in Mississippi? Yes—But Not Much, and Not Everywhere

Yes, it snows in Mississippi—but sparingly, unevenly, and mostly in the northern half of the state.

Snowfall Climatology

• Gulf Coast (Biloxi, Gulfport, Pascagoula): Trace to 0.1″/yr; measurable snow ~once per decade.
• Southern/Central (Hattiesburg, Jackson, Natchez): 0.5–1.5″/yr; 1–2 events/decade with accumulation.
• Northern (Tupelo, Oxford, Southaven, Corinth): 1–3″/yr; several events per decade; occasional 4–6″ storms.
• Extreme events: Dec 1997 (6–12″ N. MS), Jan 2011 (2–5″ central), Feb 2021 (1–3″ widespread).

Why So Little?

1. Latitude (30°–35°N): Too far south for frequent cold-air masses.
2. Gulf moisture + shallow cold: When cold air arrives, it's often shallow; warm air aloft → freezing rain/sleet, not snow.
3. Storm track: Major winter cyclones usually pass north (Ohio Valley) or south (Gulf lows → rain).

Impacts

• Even 0.5″ paralyzes travel (no plows/salt, hills, bridges ice).
• Schools/businesses close at forecast of *any* accumulation.
• Power outages from ice > snow.

So: It snows, barely, rarely, and the state shuts down when it does. Don't move to Mississippi for skiing.