Frost Dates for 70001 — Metairie, Louisiana

In the 87% of winters that bring a 32°F night, half of springs at New Orleans International Airport, LA see their last 32°F night by January 30; only one in ten is past it by December 29, and one in ten still has one after February 27. Counting the winters with no freeze at all, the risk of a 32°F night after February 27 is under 9% and after January 30 43%. The 28 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 85% of the 88 Louisiana stations behind this site's ZIP pages, so a fixed calendar date is a gamble here.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by December 31 in half of years, as early as December 1 one year in ten, and holds off past January 31 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 7 days later, around January 7; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is February 14, 13 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 333 days in a typical year, longer than at 95% of the 88 Louisiana stations; it reaches 365 days one year in ten and falls short of 296 one year in ten. On average 5 nights a year drop to 32°F or below. Nights of 36°F, when frost can still settle on leaves in low, open spots, continue 17 days longer, to about February 16, and return around December 9. A 24°F night is unusual: 17% of winters had one.

July is the warmest month at New Orleans International Airport, LA, averaging 91°F by day and 77°F at night; January is the coldest at 63°F and 46°F. From March to November the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, February still brings one in 35% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 7,640 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 98% of the 88 Louisiana stations. 43% of them (3,293) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 1,052. Precipitation totals 63.3 inches a year, most in June (7.6") and least in October (3.7"); May to September bring 51% of it.

The nearest other station, New Orleans Audubon, LA, 5 miles southeast of Metairie, has a last frost 6 days earlier (January 24), a first frost 2 days later (January 2), a season 8 days longer.

Measurable snow is rare here: only 0 of 20 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at New Orleans Audubon, LA, 5.2 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

ZIP 70001 is 5 miles from New Orleans International Airport, LA, which stands at 4 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 13 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 70065 (Kenner). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 70001 in zone 9b, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged 25 to 30°F (-3.9 to -1.1°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.