Frost Dates for 71280 — Sterlington, Louisiana

Half of springs at Bastrop, LA see their last 32°F night by March 15; only one in ten is past it by February 26, and one in ten still has one after April 3. Planting tender crops after March 24 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after March 28 20%, and after April 3 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 12 in half of years, as early as October 29 one year in ten, and holds off past December 2 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 14 days later, around November 26; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is March 21, 13 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 241 days in a typical year, shorter than at 88% of the 88 Louisiana stations; it reaches 270 days one year in ten and falls short of 215 one year in ten. On average 53 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 16 days longer, to about March 31, and return around November 1. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 99% of winters and 16°F in 38%.

July is the warmest month at Bastrop, LA, averaging 91°F by day and 72°F at night; January is the coldest at 54°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 82% of years and April still brings one in 12% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 5,606 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 98% of the 88 Louisiana stations. 40% of them (2,253) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 962. Precipitation totals 58.3 inches a year, most in April (6.1") and least in September (3.4"); May to September bring 38% of it.

The nearest other station, Monroe 26 N, LA, 13 miles north of Sterlington, has a last frost 10 days later (March 25), a first frost 7 days earlier (November 5), a season 15 days shorter.

Measurable snow is rare here: only 4 of 23 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Bastrop, LA, 10 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

ZIP 71280 is 10 miles from Bastrop, LA, which stands at 150 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 1 other ZIP code shares the station; its figures are presented in full for 71220 (Bastrop). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 71280 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.