Frost Dates for 70532 — Elton, Louisiana

Half of springs at Oberlin Fire Twr, LA see their last 32°F night by March 1; only one in ten is past it by February 1, and one in ten still has one after March 26. Planting tender crops after March 12 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after March 18 20%, and after March 26 10%. The 25 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 69% 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 24 in half of years, as early as November 5 one year in ten, and holds off past December 17 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 17 days later, around December 11; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is March 11, 15 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 267 days in a typical year, shorter than at 51% of the 88 Louisiana stations; it reaches 302 days one year in ten and falls short of 239 one year in ten. On average 19 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 March 19, and return around November 11. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 75% of winters and 16°F in 8%.

August is the warmest month at Oberlin Fire Twr, LA, averaging 91°F by day and 72°F at night; January is the coldest at 59°F and 39°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from December to 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 82% of years and March still brings one in 48% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 6,392 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 64% of the 88 Louisiana stations. 42% of them (2,692) have built up by the end of June, and August adds the most, 970. Precipitation totals 61.9 inches a year, most in January (6.4") and least in March (4.1"); May to September bring 43% of it.

The nearest other station, Eunice, LA, 16 miles east of Elton, has a last frost 3 days earlier (February 26), a first frost 3 days later (November 27), a season 9 days longer.

Measurable snow is rare here: only 2 of 20 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Oberlin Fire Twr, LA, 9.9 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

ZIP 70532 is 10 miles from Oberlin Fire Twr, LA, which stands at 65 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 2 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 70648 (Kinder). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 70532 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.