Frost Dates for 71346 — Lecompte, Louisiana

Half of springs at Lsu Dean Lee Rsch Stn, LA see their last 32°F night by March 1; only one in ten is past it by February 1, and one in ten still has one after March 22. Planting tender crops after March 10 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after March 15 20%, and after March 22 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 22 in half of years, as early as November 2 one year in ten, and holds off past December 13 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 15 days later, around December 7; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is March 9, 13 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 267 days in a typical year, shorter than at 51% of the 88 Louisiana stations; it reaches 300 days one year in ten and falls short of 237 one year in ten. On average 28 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 15 days longer, to about March 16, and return around November 8. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 74% of winters and 16°F in 7%.

August is the warmest month at Lsu Dean Lee Rsch Stn, 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 every month from December to 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 50% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 6,556 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 50% of the 88 Louisiana stations. 42% of them (2,752) have built up by the end of June, and August adds the most, 1,015. Precipitation totals 60.2 inches a year, most in January (6.0") and least in August (3.6"); May to September bring 39% of it.

The nearest other station, Alexandria 5 SSE, LA, 10 miles north of Lecompte, has a last frost 2 days later (March 3), the same first-frost date, a season 4 days shorter.

Measurable snow is rare here: only 0 of 20 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Lsu Dean Lee Rsch Stn, LA, 4.4 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

ZIP 71346 is 4 miles from Lsu Dean Lee Rsch Stn, LA, which stands at 70 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 71485 (Woodworth). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 71346 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.