Frost Dates for 70538 — Franklin, Louisiana

Half of springs at Franklin 3 NW, LA see their last 32°F night by February 11; only one in ten is past it by January 12, and one in ten still has one after March 11. Planting tender crops after February 25 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after March 2 20%, and after March 11 10%. 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 8 in half of years, as early as November 15 one year in ten, and holds off past January 9 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 23 days later, around December 31; 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 303 days in a typical year, longer than at 81% of the 88 Louisiana stations; it reaches 339 days one year in ten and falls short of 263 one year in ten. On average 10 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 1, and return around November 22. A 24°F night is unusual: 46% of winters had one.

August is the warmest month at Franklin 3 NW, LA, averaging 90°F by day and 74°F at night; January is the coldest at 63°F and 44°F. From April to October the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, February still brings one in 55% of years and March still brings one in 23% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 7,078 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 81% of the 88 Louisiana stations. 43% of them (3,054) have built up by the end of June, and August adds the most, 994. Precipitation totals 65.2 inches a year, most in July (8.0") and least in February (4.0"); May to September bring 51% of it.

The nearest other station, Jeanerette 5 NW, LA, 18 miles northwest of Franklin, has a last frost 4 days later (February 15), a first frost 5 days earlier (December 3), a season 9 days shorter.

Measurable snow is rare here: only 0 of 20 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Franklin 3 NW, LA, 4.6 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

ZIP 70538 is 5 miles from Franklin 3 NW, LA, which stands at 12 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 70538 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.