Frost Dates for 70420 — Abita Springs, Louisiana

Half of springs at Covington 4 NNW, LA see their last 32°F night by March 12; only one in ten is past it by February 13, and one in ten still has one after April 3. Planting tender crops after March 21 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after March 26 20%, and after April 3 10%. The 22 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 49% 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 November 18 in half of years, as early as November 1 one year in ten, and holds off past December 12 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 15 days later, around December 3; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is March 17, 17 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 253 days in a typical year, shorter than at 73% of the 88 Louisiana stations; it reaches 290 days one year in ten and falls short of 222 one year in ten. On average 29 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 15 days longer, to about March 27, and return around November 7. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 85% of winters and 16°F in 16%.

August is the warmest month at Covington 4 NNW, LA, averaging 90°F by day and 72°F at night; January is the coldest at 62°F and 40°F. A freezing night is all but certain in January (a 90% chance or more). From May to October the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, February still brings one in 88% of years and March still brings one in 64% of years and April still brings one in 13% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 6,473 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 56% of the 88 Louisiana stations. 42% of them (2,749) have built up by the end of June, and August adds the most, 953. Precipitation totals 62.4 inches a year, most in June (6.7") and least in November (4.0"); May to September bring 46% of it.

The nearest other station, Slidell Airport, LA, 14 miles southeast of Abita Springs, has a last frost 9 days earlier (March 3), a first frost 3 days later (November 21), a season 10 days longer.

Measurable snow is rare here: only 1 of 19 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Covington 4 NNW, LA, 7.3 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

ZIP 70420 is 7 miles from Covington 4 NNW, LA, which stands at 40 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 7 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 70433 (Covington). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 70420 in zone 9a, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged 20 to 25°F (-6.7 to -3.9°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.