Frost Dates for 71001 — Arcadia, Louisiana

Half of springs at Bienville 3 NE, LA see their last 32°F night by March 19; only one in ten is past it by February 26, and one in ten still has one after April 10. Planting tender crops after March 30 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 3 20%, and after April 10 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 9 in half of years, as early as October 27 one year in ten, and holds off past November 29 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 14 days later, around November 23; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is March 25, 16 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 237 days in a typical year, shorter than at 92% of the 88 Louisiana stations; it reaches 265 days one year in ten and falls short of 211 one year in ten. On average 42 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 April 6, and return around November 1. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 99% of winters and 16°F in 39%.

July is the warmest month at Bienville 3 NE, LA, averaging 93°F by day and 72°F at night; January is the coldest at 58°F and 36°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from December to February (a 90% chance or more). From May to September the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, March still brings one in 80% of years and April still brings one in 27% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 6,091 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 83% of the 88 Louisiana stations. 41% of them (2,486) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 1,003. Precipitation totals 60.8 inches a year, most in January (6.2") and least in August (3.6"); May to September bring 36% of it.

The nearest other station, Ruston La Tech, LA, 16 miles east of Arcadia, has a last frost 8 days earlier (March 11), a first frost 7 days later (November 16), a season 11 days longer.

Measurable snow is rare here: only 6 of 19 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Arcadia, LA, 2 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

ZIP 71001 is 14 miles from Bienville 3 NE, LA, which stands at 307 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 1 other ZIP code shares the station; its figures are presented in full for 71251 (Jonesboro). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 71001 in zone 8b, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged 15 to 20°F (-9.4 to -6.7°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.