Frost Dates for 71068 — Ringgold, Louisiana

Half of springs at Ashland, LA see their last 32°F night by March 24; only one in ten is past it by February 28, and one in ten still has one after April 16. Planting tender crops after April 2 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 7 20%, and after April 16 10%. The 23 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 52% 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 7 in half of years, as early as October 22 one year in ten, and holds off past November 27 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 12 days later, around November 19; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is March 31, 16 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 229 days in a typical year, shorter than at 97% of the 88 Louisiana stations; it reaches 258 days one year in ten and falls short of 201 one year in ten. On average 51 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 April 9, and return around October 28. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 100% of winters and 16°F in 52%.

July is the warmest month at Ashland, LA, averaging 92°F by day and 71°F at night; January is the coldest at 58°F and 34°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 83% of years and April still brings one in 34% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 5,845 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 94% of the 88 Louisiana stations. 41% of them (2,370) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 969. Precipitation totals 56.8 inches a year, most in December (6.2") and least in August (3.2"); May to September bring 34% of it.

The nearest other station, Red River Rsch Stn, LA, 20 miles northwest of Ringgold, has a last frost 18 days earlier (March 6), a first frost 11 days later (November 18), a season 27 days longer.

Measurable snow is rare here: only 5 of 18 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Jamestown, LA, 8.1 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

ZIP 71068 is 17 miles from Ashland, LA, which stands at 240 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 71019 (Coushatta). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 71068 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.