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USDA Hardiness Zone 9a

Frost Dates for 70449 — Maurepas, Louisiana

NOAA 1991–2020 normals from Reserve, LA (15 ft), 17 miles southeast.

Updated

In Maurepas, the last spring frost (32°F) is around February 9 in half of years and has passed by March 11 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around December 14, as early as November 21 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 308 days (NOAA, Reserve, LA).

Last spring frost
February 9

50% probability

First fall frost
December 14

50% probability

Growing season
308 days

freeze-free, 50%

Hardiness zone
9a

20 to 25°F (-6.7 to -3.9°C) coldest night

First snow
Rare

median, 1991–2020

Last snow
Rare

median, 1991–2020

Winters with snow
0%

0 of 19 observed

Snow per year
0"

NOAA normal

Frost risk by date in Maurepas

Half of springs at Reserve, LA see their last 32°F night by February 9; only one in ten is past it by January 13, and one in ten still has one after March 11. Planting tender crops after February 24 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after March 1 20%, and after March 11 10%. The 30 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 91% 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 14 in half of years, as early as November 21 one year in ten, and holds off past January 13 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 18 days later, around January 1; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is February 26, 13 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 308 days in a typical year, longer than at 85% of the 88 Louisiana stations; it reaches 345 days one year in ten and falls short of 272 one year in ten. On average 13 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 18 days longer, to about February 27, and return around November 28. A 24°F night is unusual: 41% of winters had one.

Spring: the chance of another night this cold after the date
Low90%80%70%60%50%40%30%20%10%
36°FFeb 1Feb 10Feb 17Feb 22Feb 27Mar 2Mar 8Mar 14Mar 22
32°F97% of yrsJan 13Jan 24Jan 30Feb 3Feb 9Feb 17Feb 24Mar 1Mar 11
28°F79% of yrsDec 28Jan 6Jan 16Jan 21Jan 28Jan 31Feb 6Feb 15Feb 26
24°F41% of yrstoo rare for a date
20°F13% of yrstoo rare for a date
16°F4% of yrstoo rare for a date
Fall: the chance the first night this cold has come by the date
Low10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%
36°FNov 8Nov 14Nov 19Nov 24Nov 28Dec 1Dec 6Dec 11Dec 22
32°F97% of yrsNov 21Nov 29Dec 3Dec 8Dec 14Dec 21Dec 29Jan 3Jan 13
28°F79% of yrsDec 2Dec 12Dec 20Dec 28Jan 1Jan 5Jan 11Jan 18Feb 1
24°F41% of yrstoo rare for a date
20°F13% of yrstoo rare for a date
16°F4% of yrstoo rare for a date

Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at Reserve, LA, from NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals. Where a temperature is reached in fewer than 99.5% of years, the dates describe only the years that reach it. Not a forecast.

Frost risk on any date in 70449 →Compare Maurepas with another place →

Weather by month in Maurepas

July is the warmest month at Reserve, LA, averaging 92°F by day and 75°F at night; January is the coldest at 62°F and 43°F. From April to October the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, February still brings one in 54% of years and March still brings one in 20% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 7,171 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 83% of the 88 Louisiana stations. 42% of them (3,033) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 1,028. Precipitation totals 67.2 inches a year, most in June (8.6") and least in October (4.1"); May to September bring 49% of it.

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Reserve, LA
MonthHigh °FLow °FPrecip. in32°F nightNights ≤ 32°FGDD 50°F
Jan62435.979%5153
Feb67474.454%2214
Mar72524.920%1388
Apr79585.50%0557
May85665.90%0792
Jun89738.60%0928
Jul92757.10%01028
Aug92755.70%01028
Sep88715.80%0889
Oct81614.10%0651
Nov71514.323%1338
Dec65465.064%4206

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Reserve, LA (15 ft), NOAA NCEI. "32°F night": chance of at least one in the month. GDD: growing degree days, base 50°F.

Compared with the next station

The nearest other station, Donaldsonville 4 SW, LA, 23 miles southwest of Maurepas, has a last frost 12 days later (February 21), a first frost 9 days earlier (December 5), a season 17 days shorter.

Frost dates for 70774 (Saint Amant) →

When it snows in Maurepas, Louisiana

Measurable snow is rare here: only 0 of 19 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Reserve, LA, 17.3 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

Planting calendar for 70449

What to do and when, from the 50% frost dates for Maurepas, Louisiana
WhenWhat to do
December 1 – December 15Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out.
December 15 – December 29Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early.
January 12 – January 26Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil.
February 9 onwardTransplant tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, cucumbersThe average last freeze has passed — still watch the actual forecast.
by September 21Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops.
by November 30Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation.
December 14 onwardPlant garlic, mulch beds, lift tender bulbsGarlic wants a cold spell; bare soil loses structure over winter.

The weeks before and after the 50% dates are general rules of thumb, not NOAA figures; a seed packet gives the timing for each variety.

Where these figures come from

ZIP 70449 is 17 miles from Reserve, LA, which stands at 15 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 6 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 70068 (La Place). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 70449 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.

Frost dates across Louisiana →

Hardiness zone and temperature range: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023 (USDA-ARS, Oregon State University), ZIP-code listing, unchanged. °C converted from °F by this site.

Thirty-year averages, not a forecast: check the forecast before planting out. How stations are matched and which pages are offered to search engines: methodology.

ZIP codes measured at the same station

Other zone 9a places in Louisiana