Frost Dates for 71040 — Homer, Louisiana

Half of springs at Homer 1N, LA see their last 32°F night by March 30; only one in ten is past it by March 9, and one in ten still has one after April 16. Planting tender crops after April 5 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 9 20%, and after April 16 10%. The 17 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 93% of the 88 Louisiana stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by November 6 in half of years, as early as October 23 one year in ten, and holds off past November 22 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 10 days later, around November 16; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 2, 14 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 221 days in a typical year, the shortest of the 88 Louisiana stations; it reaches 248 days one year in ten and falls short of 197 one year in ten. On average 57 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 12 days longer, to about April 11, and return around October 28. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 100% of winters and 16°F in 69%.

July is the warmest month at Homer 1N, LA, averaging 92°F by day and 70°F at night; January is the coldest at 56°F and 32°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from November to March (a 90% chance or more). From May to September the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, April still brings one in 45% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 5,459 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), the fewest of the 88 Louisiana stations. 40% of them (2,166) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 955. Precipitation totals 56.9 inches a year, most in April (5.9") and least in August (3.3"); May to September bring 35% of it.

The nearest other station, Minden, LA, 20 miles southwest of Homer, has a last frost 13 days earlier (March 17), a first frost 8 days later (November 14), a season 20 days longer.

Measurable snow is rare here: only 7 of 21 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Homer 1N, LA, 2.6 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

ZIP 71040 is 3 miles from Homer 1N, LA, which stands at 215 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 1 other ZIP code shares the station. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 71040 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.