Frost Dates for 70785 — Walker, Louisiana

Half of springs at Baton Rouge Ryan Airport, LA see their last 32°F night by February 25; only one in ten is past it by January 29, and one in ten still has one after March 19. Planting tender crops after March 7 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after March 12 20%, and after March 19 10%. The 22 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 49% 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 26 in half of years, as early as November 7 one year in ten, and holds off past December 19 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 15 days later, around December 11; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is March 8, 11 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 276 days in a typical year, longer than at 65% of the 88 Louisiana stations; it reaches 311 days one year in ten and falls short of 245 one year in ten. On average 18 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 16 days longer, to about March 13, and return around November 13. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 70% of winters and 16°F in 6%.

July is the warmest month at Baton Rouge Ryan Airport, LA, averaging 92°F by day and 74°F at night; January is the coldest at 62°F and 42°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 77% of years and March still brings one in 41% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 6,997 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 77% of the 88 Louisiana stations. 43% of them (3,004) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 1,018. Precipitation totals 62.0 inches a year, most in June (6.5") and least in November (3.9"); May to September bring 45% of it.

The nearest other station, Clinton 5 SE, LA, 22 miles north of Walker, has a last frost 16 days later (March 13), a first frost 9 days earlier (November 17), a season 25 days shorter.

Measurable snow is rare here: only 1 of 20 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Denham Springs, LA, 7.8 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

ZIP 70785 is 18 miles from Baton Rouge Ryan Airport, LA, which stands at 64 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 14 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 70726 (Denham Springs). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 70785 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.