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USDA Hardiness Zone 8b

Frost Dates for 71119 — Shreveport, Louisiana

NOAA 1991–2020 normals from Shreveport WFO, LA (274 ft), 4 miles southeast.

Updated

In Shreveport, the last spring frost (32°F) is around March 6 in half of years and has passed by March 29 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around November 19, as early as November 2 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 257 days (NOAA, Shreveport WFO, LA).

Last spring frost
March 6

50% probability

First fall frost
November 19

50% probability

Growing season
257 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
47%

14 of 30 observed

Snow per year
0.9"

NOAA normal

Frost risk by date in Shreveport

Half of springs at Shreveport WFO, LA see their last 32°F night by March 6; only one in ten is past it by February 13, and one in ten still has one after March 29. Planting tender crops after March 15 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after March 20 20%, and after March 29 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 19 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 14 days later, around December 3; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is March 14, 15 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 285 days one year in ten and falls short of 229 one year in ten. On average 27 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 19 days longer, to about March 25, and return around November 8. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 92% of winters and 16°F in 23%.

Spring: the chance of another night this cold after the date
Low90%80%70%60%50%40%30%20%10%
36°FMar 1Mar 9Mar 15Mar 20Mar 25Mar 31Apr 3Apr 6Apr 12
32°FFeb 13Feb 22Feb 28Mar 2Mar 6Mar 10Mar 15Mar 20Mar 29
28°FJan 22Jan 31Feb 6Feb 13Feb 20Feb 26Mar 1Mar 6Mar 14
24°F92% of yrsJan 1Jan 13Jan 19Jan 26Jan 31Feb 5Feb 11Feb 20Mar 1
20°F60% of yrsDec 25Jan 2Jan 8Jan 14Jan 18Jan 23Jan 31Feb 6Feb 16
16°F23% 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 25Oct 30Nov 3Nov 5Nov 8Nov 12Nov 15Nov 19Nov 25
32°FNov 2Nov 7Nov 11Nov 15Nov 19Nov 23Nov 28Dec 2Dec 8
28°FNov 11Nov 19Nov 25Nov 29Dec 3Dec 8Dec 13Dec 22Jan 1
24°F92% of yrsNov 26Dec 4Dec 11Dec 20Dec 26Jan 1Jan 5Jan 13Jan 24
20°F60% of yrsDec 12Dec 24Dec 29Jan 1Jan 6Jan 12Jan 17Jan 23Feb 2
16°F23% of yrstoo rare for a date

Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at Shreveport WFO, 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 71119 →Compare Shreveport with another place →

Weather by month in Shreveport

August is the warmest month at Shreveport WFO, LA, averaging 93°F by day and 73°F at night; January is the coldest at 56°F and 37°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 62% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 6,145 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 80% of the 88 Louisiana stations. 41% of them (2,491) have built up by the end of June, and August adds the most, 1,024. Precipitation totals 52.9 inches a year, most in April (5.2") and least in August (3.0"); May to September bring 37% of it.

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Shreveport WFO, LA
MonthHigh °FLow °FPrecip. in32°F nightNights ≤ 32°FGDD 50°F
Jan56374.299%1077
Feb60414.592%6120
Mar68475.062%1273
Apr75545.28%<1435
May83634.50%0710
Jun89704.60%0877
Jul92733.50%01012
Aug93733.00%01024
Sep87674.00%0805
Oct77555.18%<1508
Nov66454.374%2214
Dec57395.099%790

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Shreveport WFO, LA (274 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, LA, 4 miles southeast of Shreveport, has a last frost 3 days later (March 9), a first frost 1 day earlier (November 18), a season 2 days shorter.

Frost dates for 71108 (Shreveport) →

When it snows in Shreveport, Louisiana

Measurable snow is rare here: only 14 of 30 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Shreveport, LA, 3.9 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

Planting calendar for 71119

What to do and when, from the 50% frost dates for Shreveport, Louisiana
WhenWhat to do
December 26 – January 9Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out.
January 9 – January 23Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early.
February 6 – February 20Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil.
March 6 onwardTransplant tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, cucumbersThe average last freeze has passed — still watch the actual forecast.
by August 27Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops.
by November 5Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation.
November 19 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 71119 is 4 miles from Shreveport WFO, LA, which stands at 274 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 2 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 71109 (Shreveport). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 71119 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