Frost Dates for 71071 — Sarepta, Louisiana

Half of springs at Benton 5E, LA see their last 32°F night by March 14; only one in ten is past it by February 22, and one in ten still has one after April 1. Planting tender crops after March 21 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after March 26 20%, and after April 1 10%. The 18 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 91% of the 88 Louisiana stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by November 14 in half of years, as early as October 31 one year in ten, and holds off past December 4 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 15 days later, around November 29; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is March 19, 13 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 246 days in a typical year, shorter than at 83% of the 88 Louisiana stations; it reaches 274 days one year in ten and falls short of 221 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 13 days longer, to about March 27, and return around November 3. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 98% of winters and 16°F in 39%.

July is the warmest month at Benton 5E, LA, averaging 92°F by day and 73°F at night; January is the coldest at 55°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 78% of years and April still brings one in 11% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 5,922 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 92% of the 88 Louisiana stations. 40% of them (2,385) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 1,020. Precipitation totals 54.0 inches a year, most in December (5.3") and least in August (3.1"); May to September bring 36% of it.

The nearest other station, Minden, LA, 24 miles southeast of Sarepta, has a last frost 3 days later (March 17), the same first-frost date, a season 5 days shorter.

Measurable snow is rare here: only 6 of 19 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Cotton Valley 5 NNW, LA, 2.6 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

ZIP 71071 is 20 miles from Benton 5E, LA, which stands at 200 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 5 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 71037 (Haughton). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 71071 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.