USDA Hardiness Zone 9a
Frost Dates for 70563 — New Iberia, Louisiana
NOAA 1991–2020 normals from New Iberia Acadiana Airport, LA (24 ft), 6 miles west.
Updated
In New Iberia, the last spring frost (32°F) is around February 10 in half of years and has passed by March 9 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around December 11, as early as November 17 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 305 days (NOAA, New Iberia Acadiana Airport, LA).
- Last spring frost
- February 10
- First fall frost
- December 11
- Growing season
- 305 days
- Hardiness zone
- 9a
50% probability
50% probability
freeze-free, 50%
20 to 25°F (-6.7 to -3.9°C) coldest night
- First snow
- Rare
- Last snow
- Rare
- Winters with snow
- 0%
- Snow per year
- —
median, 1991–2020
median, 1991–2020
0 of 17 observed
NOAA normal
Frost risk by date in New Iberia
Half of springs at New Iberia Acadiana Airport, LA see their last 32°F night by February 10; only one in ten is past it by January 11, and one in ten still has one after March 9. Planting tender crops after February 25 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after March 1 20%, and after March 9 10%. The 27 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 81% 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 11 in half of years, as early as November 17 one year in ten, and holds off past January 11 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 23 days later, around January 3; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is February 28, 9 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 305 days in a typical year, longer than at 82% of the 88 Louisiana stations; it reaches 342 days one year in ten and falls short of 267 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 February 28, and return around November 26. A 24°F night is unusual: 38% of winters had one.
| Low | 90% | 80% | 70% | 60% | 50% | 40% | 30% | 20% | 10% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Feb 2 | Feb 12 | Feb 20 | Feb 25 | Feb 28 | Mar 4 | Mar 10 | Mar 16 | Mar 23 |
| 32°F98% of yrs | Jan 11 | Jan 24 | Jan 30 | Feb 4 | Feb 10 | Feb 18 | Feb 25 | Mar 1 | Mar 9 |
| 28°F79% of yrs | Dec 27 | Jan 8 | Jan 16 | Jan 23 | Jan 29 | Feb 1 | Feb 8 | Feb 18 | Feb 28 |
| 24°F38% of yrs | too rare for a date | ||||||||
| 20°F11% of yrs | too rare for a date | ||||||||
| 16°F3% of yrs | too rare for a date | ||||||||
| Low | 10% | 20% | 30% | 40% | 50% | 60% | 70% | 80% | 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Nov 5 | Nov 11 | Nov 16 | Nov 21 | Nov 26 | Dec 1 | Dec 5 | Dec 9 | Dec 21 |
| 32°F98% of yrs | Nov 17 | Nov 24 | Nov 30 | Dec 6 | Dec 11 | Dec 19 | Dec 27 | Jan 2 | Jan 11 |
| 28°F79% of yrs | Dec 1 | Dec 13 | Dec 23 | Dec 31 | Jan 3 | Jan 7 | Jan 14 | Jan 22 | Feb 3 |
| 24°F38% of yrs | too rare for a date | ||||||||
| 20°F11% of yrs | too rare for a date | ||||||||
| 16°F3% of yrs | too rare for a date | ||||||||
Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at New Iberia Acadiana Airport, 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 70563 →Compare New Iberia with another place →
Weather by month in New Iberia
August is the warmest month at New Iberia Acadiana Airport, LA, averaging 93°F by day and 75°F at night; January is the coldest at 64°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 22% of years.
Warmth for growing adds up to 7,451 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 91% of the 88 Louisiana stations. 43% of them (3,193) have built up by the end of June, and August adds the most, 1,051.
| Month | High °F | Low °F | 32°F night | Nights ≤ 32°F | GDD 50°F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 64 | 43 | 77% | 4 | 175 |
| Feb | 67 | 47 | 54% | 1 | 225 |
| Mar | 74 | 53 | 22% | 1 | 429 |
| Apr | 80 | 60 | 0% | 0 | 592 |
| May | 86 | 67 | 0% | 0 | 823 |
| Jun | 90 | 73 | 0% | 0 | 949 |
| Jul | 92 | 75 | 0% | 0 | 1037 |
| Aug | 93 | 75 | 0% | 0 | 1051 |
| Sep | 90 | 71 | 0% | 0 | 910 |
| Oct | 83 | 60 | 0% | <1 | 677 |
| Nov | 73 | 50 | 30% | 1 | 364 |
| Dec | 66 | 45 | 62% | 3 | 220 |
Monthly normals 1991–2020 at New Iberia Acadiana Airport, LA (24 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, Jeanerette 5 NW, LA, 6 miles southeast of New Iberia, has a last frost 5 days later (February 15), a first frost 8 days earlier (December 3), a season 11 days shorter.
When it snows in New Iberia, Louisiana
Measurable snow is rare here: only 0 of 17 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at New Iberia Acadiana Airport, LA, 6.1 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.
Planting calendar for 70563
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| December 2 – December 16 | Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out. |
| December 16 – December 30 | Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early. |
| January 13 – January 27 | Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil. |
| February 10 onward | Transplant tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, cucumbersThe average last freeze has passed — still watch the actual forecast. |
| by September 18 | Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops. |
| by November 27 | Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation. |
| December 11 onward | Plant 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 70563 is 6 miles from New Iberia Acadiana Airport, LA, which stands at 24 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 3 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 70560 (New Iberia). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 70563 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.