Frost Dates for 70615 — Lake Charles, Louisiana

Half of springs at Moss Bluff 2 NNW, LA see their last 32°F night by March 2; only one in ten is past it by January 30, and one in ten still has one after March 26. Planting tender crops after March 13 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after March 19 20%, and after March 26 10%. The 24 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 63% 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 25 in half of years, as early as November 3 one year in ten, and holds off past December 21 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 15 days later, around December 10; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is March 13, 13 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 306 days one year in ten and falls short of 237 one year in ten. On average 25 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 20, and return around November 12. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 75% of winters and 16°F in 8%.

July is the warmest month at Moss Bluff 2 NNW, LA, averaging 92°F by day and 73°F at night; January is the coldest at 63°F and 40°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 73% of years and March still brings one in 50% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 6,811 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 67% of the 88 Louisiana stations. 43% of them (2,921) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 1,000. Precipitation totals 69.3 inches a year, most in August (7.5") and least in March (4.1"); May to September bring 48% of it.

The nearest other station, Lake Charles, LA, 9 miles southwest of Lake Charles, has a last frost 16 days earlier (February 14), a first frost 12 days later (December 7), a season 32 days longer.

Measurable snow is rare here: only 0 of 16 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Lake Charles Port, LA, 6.2 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

ZIP 70615 is 8 miles from Moss Bluff 2 NNW, LA, which stands at 25 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 70663 (Sulphur). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 70615 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.