Frost Dates for 70653 — Merryville, Louisiana

Half of springs at De Ridder, LA see their last 32°F night by March 1; only one in ten is past it by February 2, and one in ten still has one after March 25. Planting tender crops after March 10 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after March 16 20%, and after March 25 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 8 one year in ten, and holds off past December 13 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 12 days later, around December 7; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is March 10, 15 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 269 days in a typical year, longer than at 55% of the 88 Louisiana stations; it reaches 301 days one year in ten and falls short of 237 one year in ten. On average 26 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 17 days longer, to about March 18, and return around November 13. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 81% of winters and 16°F in 12%.

August is the warmest month at De Ridder, LA, averaging 93°F by day and 72°F at night; January is the coldest at 61°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 49% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 6,625 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 53% of the 88 Louisiana stations. 42% of them (2,793) have built up by the end of June, and August adds the most, 1,004. Precipitation totals 64.2 inches a year, most in January (6.4") and least in February (4.6"); May to September bring 41% of it.

The nearest other station, Moss Bluff 2 NNW, LA, 31 miles southeast of Merryville and 165 feet lower, has a last frost 1 day later (March 2), the same first-frost date, a season 2 days shorter.

Measurable snow is rare here: only 0 of 17 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at De Ridder, LA, 19.4 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

ZIP 70653 is 19 miles from De Ridder, LA, which stands at 190 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 70634 (Deridder). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 70653 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.