Frost Dates for 71301 — Alexandria, Louisiana

Half of springs at Alexandria, LA see their last 32°F night by February 27; only one in ten is past it by January 31, and one in ten still has one after March 18. Planting tender crops after March 6 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after March 11 20%, and after March 18 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 27 in half of years, as early as November 7 one year in ten, and holds off past December 19 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 16 days later, around December 13; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is March 8, 10 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 274 days in a typical year, longer than at 63% of the 88 Louisiana stations; it reaches 306 days one year in ten and falls short of 243 one year in ten. On average 24 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 March 12, and return around November 14. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 73% of winters and 16°F in 9%.

August is the warmest month at Alexandria, LA, averaging 92°F by day and 73°F at night; January is the coldest at 59°F and 39°F. A freezing night is all but certain in 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 81% of years and March still brings one in 44% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 6,468 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 57% of the 88 Louisiana stations. 41% of them (2,666) have built up by the end of June, and August adds the most, 1,015. Precipitation totals 61.0 inches a year, most in January (6.1") and least in September (4.0"); May to September bring 37% of it.

The nearest other station, Alexandria 5 SSE, LA, 3 miles south of Alexandria, has a last frost 4 days later (March 3), a first frost 5 days earlier (November 22), a season 11 days shorter.

Measurable snow is rare here: only 3 of 20 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Alexandria, LA, 1.8 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

ZIP 71301 is 2 miles from Alexandria, LA, which stands at 87 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 71360 (Pineville). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 71301 in zone 9a, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged 20 to 25°F (-6.7 to -3.9°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.