Frost Dates for 71082 — Vivian, Louisiana

Half of springs at Mooringsport 1 N, LA see their last 32°F night by March 6; only one in ten is past it by February 15, and one in ten still has one after March 27. Planting tender crops after March 14 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after March 19 20%, and after March 27 10%. The 21 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 60% 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 19 in half of years, as early as November 2 one year in ten, and holds off past December 9 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 14 days later, around December 3; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is March 13, 14 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 257 days in a typical year, shorter than at 64% of the 88 Louisiana stations; it reaches 283 days one year in ten and falls short of 230 one year in ten. On average 35 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 15 days longer, to about March 21, and return around November 7. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 93% of winters and 16°F in 28%.

July is the warmest month at Mooringsport 1 N, LA, averaging 94°F by day and 73°F at night; January is the coldest at 56°F and 35°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from December to February (a 90% chance or more). From April to October the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, March still brings one in 64% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 6,162 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 77% of the 88 Louisiana stations. 40% of them (2,488) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 1,040. Precipitation totals 50.8 inches a year, most in December (5.1") and least in August (3.0"); May to September bring 37% of it.

The nearest other station, Benton 5E, LA, 21 miles southeast of Vivian, has a last frost 8 days later (March 14), a first frost 5 days earlier (November 14), a season 11 days shorter.

Measurable snow is rare here: only 4 of 20 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Vivian, LA, 3.8 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

ZIP 71082 is 10 miles from Mooringsport 1 N, LA, which stands at 200 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 71082 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.