Frost Dates for 71260 — Marion, Louisiana

Half of springs at Monroe 26 N, LA see their last 32°F night by March 25; only one in ten is past it by March 2, and one in ten still has one after April 10. Planting tender crops after April 2 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 5 20%, and after April 10 10%. The 16 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is the narrowest of the 88 Louisiana stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by November 5 in half of years, as early as October 20 one year in ten, and holds off past November 23 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 13 days later, around November 18; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is March 30, 11 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 226 days in a typical year, shorter than at 98% of the 88 Louisiana stations; it reaches 252 days one year in ten and falls short of 200 one year in ten. On average 59 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 April 7, and return around October 25. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 100% of winters and 16°F in 51%.

July is the warmest month at Monroe 26 N, LA, averaging 92°F by day and 70°F at night; January is the coldest at 56°F and 34°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from November 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 87% of years and April still brings one in 33% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 5,604 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 99% of the 88 Louisiana stations. 41% of them (2,275) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 967. Precipitation totals 59.9 inches a year, most in March (5.8") and least in June (3.8"); May to September bring 37% of it.

The nearest other station, Farmerville, LA, 13 miles southwest of Marion, has a last frost 11 days earlier (March 14), a first frost 11 days later (November 16), a season 20 days longer.

Measurable snow is rare here: only 8 of 19 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Farmerville, LA, 12.6 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

ZIP 71260 is 7 miles from Monroe 26 N, LA, which stands at 88 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 71260 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.