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USDA Hardiness Zone 8b

Frost Dates for 71101 — Shreveport, Louisiana

NOAA 1991–2020 normals from Shreveport Dwtn Airport, LA (179 ft), 3 miles north.

Updated

In Shreveport, the last spring frost (32°F) is around February 28 in half of years and has passed by March 19 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around November 24, as early as November 7 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 268 days (NOAA, Shreveport Dwtn Airport, LA).

Last spring frost
February 28

50% probability

First fall frost
November 24

50% probability

Growing season
268 days

freeze-free, 50%

Hardiness zone
8b

15 to 20°F (-9.4 to -6.7°C) coldest night

First snow
Rare

median, 1991–2020

Last snow
Rare

median, 1991–2020

Winters with snow
8%

2 of 24 observed

Snow per year
0.1"

NOAA normal

Frost risk by date in Shreveport

Half of springs at Shreveport Dwtn Airport, LA see their last 32°F night by February 28; only one in ten is past it by February 4, and one in ten still has one after March 19. Planting tender crops after March 7 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after March 12 20%, and after March 19 10%. The 19 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 78% of the 88 Louisiana stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by November 24 in half of years, as early as November 7 one year in ten, and holds off past December 14 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 16 days later, around December 10; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is March 7, 12 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 268 days in a typical year, longer than at 50% of the 88 Louisiana stations; it reaches 298 days one year in ten and falls short of 241 one year in ten. On average 29 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 14 days longer, to about March 14, and return around November 12. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 81% of winters and 16°F in 8%.

Spring: the chance of another night this cold after the date
Low90%80%70%60%50%40%30%20%10%
36°FFeb 24Mar 1Mar 5Mar 10Mar 14Mar 19Mar 23Mar 29Apr 3
32°FFeb 4Feb 14Feb 20Feb 24Feb 28Mar 4Mar 7Mar 12Mar 19
28°F99% of yrsJan 16Jan 26Feb 1Feb 6Feb 11Feb 17Feb 23Feb 28Mar 7
24°F81% of yrsDec 29Jan 9Jan 16Jan 22Jan 28Feb 1Feb 7Feb 15Feb 24
20°F38% of yrstoo rare for a date
16°F8% of yrstoo rare for a date
Fall: the chance the first night this cold has come by the date
Low10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%
36°FOct 31Nov 3Nov 6Nov 9Nov 12Nov 15Nov 19Nov 23Nov 29
32°FNov 7Nov 12Nov 16Nov 20Nov 24Nov 28Dec 1Dec 6Dec 14
28°F99% of yrsNov 17Nov 25Nov 30Dec 5Dec 10Dec 17Dec 23Dec 31Jan 7
24°F81% of yrsDec 3Dec 15Dec 22Dec 29Jan 2Jan 6Jan 11Jan 18Feb 1
20°F38% of yrstoo rare for a date
16°F8% of yrstoo rare for a date

Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at Shreveport Dwtn Airport, LA, from NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals. Where a temperature is reached in fewer than 99.5% of years, the dates describe only the years that reach it. Not a forecast.

Frost risk on any date in 71101 →Compare Shreveport with another place →

Weather by month in Shreveport

July is the warmest month at Shreveport Dwtn Airport, LA, averaging 95°F by day and 76°F at night; January is the coldest at 59°F and 39°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from December to January (a 90% chance or more). From April to October the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, February still brings one in 86% of years and March still brings one in 48% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 6,810 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 66% of the 88 Louisiana stations. 41% of them (2,822) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 1,094. Precipitation totals 49.1 inches a year, most in December (4.8") and least in August (2.7"); May to September bring 36% of it.

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Shreveport Dwtn Airport, LA
MonthHigh °FLow °FPrecip. in32°F nightNights ≤ 32°FGDD 50°F
Jan59394.497%10103
Feb62424.386%6143
Mar70494.748%1317
Apr78564.71%0507
May85663.80%0786
Jun92734.40%0966
Jul95763.60%01094
Aug95752.70%01086
Sep90683.30%0868
Oct79574.43%0562
Nov68474.065%3256
Dec60414.897%9122

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Shreveport Dwtn Airport, LA (179 ft), NOAA NCEI. "32°F night": chance of at least one in the month. GDD: growing degree days, base 50°F.

Compared with the next station

The nearest other station, Shreveport WFO, LA, 7 miles southwest of Shreveport, has a last frost 6 days later (March 6), a first frost 5 days earlier (November 19), a season 11 days shorter.

Frost dates for 71109 (Shreveport) →

When it snows in Shreveport, Louisiana

Measurable snow is rare here: only 2 of 24 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Shreveport Dwtn, LA, 0.8 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

Planting calendar for 71101

What to do and when, from the 50% frost dates for Shreveport, Louisiana
WhenWhat to do
December 20 – January 3Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out.
January 3 – January 17Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early.
January 31 – February 14Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil.
February 28 onwardTransplant tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, cucumbersThe average last freeze has passed — still watch the actual forecast.
by September 1Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops.
by November 10Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation.
November 24 onwardPlant garlic, mulch beds, lift tender bulbsGarlic wants a cold spell; bare soil loses structure over winter.

The weeks before and after the 50% dates are general rules of thumb, not NOAA figures; a seed packet gives the timing for each variety.

Where these figures come from

ZIP 71101 is 3 miles from Shreveport Dwtn Airport, LA, which stands at 179 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 4 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 71111 (Bossier City). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 71101 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.

Frost dates across Louisiana →

Hardiness zone and temperature range: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023 (USDA-ARS, Oregon State University), ZIP-code listing, unchanged. °C converted from °F by this site.

Thirty-year averages, not a forecast: check the forecast before planting out. How stations are matched and which pages are offered to search engines: methodology.

ZIP codes measured at the same station

Other zone 8b places in Louisiana