Frost Dates for 71052 — Mansfield, Louisiana

Half of springs at Mansfield 4 NW, LA see their last 32°F night by March 8; only one in ten is past it by February 13, and one in ten still has one after April 1. Planting tender crops after March 18 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after March 25 20%, and after April 1 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 20 in half of years, as early as November 2 one year in ten, and holds off past December 8 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 11 days later, around December 1; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is March 16, 16 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 255 days in a typical year, shorter than at 70% of the 88 Louisiana stations; it reaches 287 days one year in ten and falls short of 227 one year in ten. On average 39 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 26, and return around November 9. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 93% of winters and 16°F in 26%.

July is the warmest month at Mansfield 4 NW, LA, averaging 93°F by day and 72°F at night; January is the coldest at 57°F and 36°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from December to January (a 90% chance or more). From May to October the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, February still brings one in 88% of years and March still brings one in 64% of years and April still brings one in 10% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 6,174 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 76% of the 88 Louisiana stations. 41% of them (2,522) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 1,015. Precipitation totals 53.6 inches a year, most in March (5.5") and least in July (2.6"); May to September bring 34% of it.

The nearest other station, Shreveport Sthrn Hills, LA, 26 miles north of Mansfield, has a last frost 4 days later (March 12), a first frost 5 days earlier (November 15), a season 8 days shorter.

Measurable snow is rare here: only 3 of 22 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Mansfield 4 NW, LA, 5.1 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

ZIP 71052 is 5 miles from Mansfield 4 NW, LA, which stands at 322 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 2 other ZIP codes share the station. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 71052 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.