Frost Dates for 71322 — Bunkie, Louisiana

Half of springs at Bunkie, LA see their last 32°F night by February 28; only one in ten is past it by January 31, and one in ten still has one after March 21. Planting tender crops after March 8 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after March 14 20%, and after March 21 10%. The 21 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 60% 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 24 in half of years, as early as November 5 one year in ten, and holds off past December 18 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 18 days later, around December 12; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is March 9, 12 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 270 days in a typical year, longer than at 56% of the 88 Louisiana stations; it reaches 301 days one year in ten and falls short of 240 one year in ten. On average 20 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 16, and return around November 11. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 76% of winters and 16°F in 8%.

July is the warmest month at Bunkie, LA, averaging 93°F by day and 73°F at night; January is the coldest at 60°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 80% of years and March still brings one in 47% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 6,669 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 58% of the 88 Louisiana stations. 42% of them (2,831) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 1,015. Precipitation totals 61.7 inches a year, most in January (6.8") and least in July (4.1"); May to September bring 38% of it.

The nearest other station, Lsu Dean Lee Rsch Stn, LA, 23 miles northwest of Bunkie, has a last frost 1 day later (March 1), a first frost 2 days earlier (November 22), a season 3 days shorter.

Measurable snow is rare here: only 0 of 20 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Bunkie, LA, 2.8 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

ZIP 71322 is 3 miles from Bunkie, LA, which stands at 80 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 8 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 71351 (Marksville). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 71322 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.