Frost Dates for 70438 — Franklinton, Louisiana

Half of springs at Bogalusa, LA see their last 32°F night by March 2; only one in ten is past it by February 5, and one in ten still has one after March 24. Planting tender crops after March 12 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after March 17 20%, and after March 24 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 23 in half of years, as early as November 6 one year in ten, and holds off past December 18 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 19 days later, around December 12; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is March 14, 10 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 265 days in a typical year, shorter than at 57% of the 88 Louisiana stations; it reaches 298 days one year in ten and falls short of 237 one year in ten. On average 28 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 17, and return around November 11. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 80% of winters and 16°F in 13%.

July is the warmest month at Bogalusa, LA, averaging 92°F by day and 72°F at night; January is the coldest at 61°F and 39°F. A freezing night is all but certain in January (a 90% chance or more). From April to October the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, February still brings one in 84% of years and March still brings one in 54% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 6,646 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 56% of the 88 Louisiana stations. 42% of them (2,788) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 1,000. Precipitation totals 63.8 inches a year, most in June (7.8") and least in November (4.2"); May to September bring 46% of it.

The nearest other station, Tylertown 5ESE, MS, 17 miles north of Franklinton and 282 feet higher, has a last frost 13 days later (March 15), a first frost 7 days earlier (November 16), a season 20 days shorter.

Measurable snow is rare here: only 1 of 15 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Mt Hermon 2W, LA, 13.2 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

ZIP 70438 is 16 miles from Bogalusa, LA, which stands at 100 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 2 other ZIP codes share the station. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 70438 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.