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USDA Hardiness Zone 9a

Frost Dates for 71360 — Pineville, Louisiana

NOAA 1991–2020 normals from Alexandria, LA (87 ft), 4 miles southwest.

Updated

In Pineville, the last spring frost (32°F) is around February 27 in half of years and has passed by March 18 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around November 27, as early as November 7 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 274 days (NOAA, Alexandria, LA).

Last spring frost
February 27

50% probability

First fall frost
November 27

50% probability

Growing season
274 days

freeze-free, 50%

Hardiness zone
9a

20 to 25°F (-6.7 to -3.9°C) coldest night

First snow
Rare

median, 1991–2020

Last snow
Rare

median, 1991–2020

Winters with snow
15%

3 of 20 observed

Snow per year
0.4"

NOAA normal

Frost risk by date in Pineville

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%.

Spring: the chance of another night this cold after the date
Low90%80%70%60%50%40%30%20%10%
36°FFeb 21Feb 27Mar 3Mar 7Mar 12Mar 16Mar 20Mar 27Apr 2
32°FJan 31Feb 11Feb 19Feb 24Feb 27Mar 2Mar 6Mar 11Mar 18
28°F96% of yrsJan 6Jan 22Jan 29Feb 2Feb 8Feb 17Feb 24Mar 1Mar 8
24°F73% of yrsDec 24Jan 4Jan 12Jan 19Jan 25Jan 30Feb 3Feb 12Feb 26
20°F36% of yrstoo rare for a date
16°F9% of yrstoo rare for a date
Fall: the chance the first night this cold has come by the date
Low10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%
36°FOct 31Nov 4Nov 7Nov 11Nov 14Nov 18Nov 22Nov 27Dec 1
32°FNov 7Nov 13Nov 18Nov 22Nov 27Dec 1Dec 4Dec 8Dec 19
28°F96% of yrsNov 18Nov 26Dec 1Dec 6Dec 13Dec 21Dec 26Jan 1Jan 10
24°F73% of yrsDec 1Dec 12Dec 22Dec 28Jan 1Jan 5Jan 11Jan 18Feb 1
20°F36% of yrstoo rare for a date
16°F9% of yrstoo rare for a date

Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at Alexandria, LA, from NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals. Where a temperature is reached in fewer than 99.5% of years, the dates describe only the years that reach it. Not a forecast.

Frost risk on any date in 71360 →Compare Pineville with another place →

Weather by month in Pineville

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.

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Alexandria, LA
MonthHigh °FLow °FPrecip. in32°F nightNights ≤ 32°FGDD 50°F
Jan59396.195%998
Feb63425.181%5139
Mar70495.244%2309
Apr76555.41%0478
May83644.60%0738
Jun89715.30%0904
Jul92744.60%01012
Aug92734.30%01015
Sep88684.00%0841
Oct79574.93%<1554
Nov68465.559%2253
Dec61406.090%7126

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Alexandria, LA (87 ft), NOAA NCEI. "32°F night": chance of at least one in the month. GDD: growing degree days, base 50°F.

Compared with the next station

The nearest other station, Alexandria Esler Regional Airport, LA, 7 miles northeast of Pineville, has a last frost 17 days later (March 16), a first frost 19 days earlier (November 8), a season 35 days shorter.

Frost dates for 71467 (Pollock) →

When it snows in Pineville, Louisiana

Measurable snow is rare here: only 3 of 20 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Alexandria, LA, 4.2 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

Planting calendar for 71360

What to do and when, from the 50% frost dates for Pineville, Louisiana
WhenWhat to do
December 19 – January 2Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out.
January 2 – January 16Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early.
January 30 – February 13Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil.
February 27 onwardTransplant tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, cucumbersThe average last freeze has passed — still watch the actual forecast.
by September 4Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops.
by November 13Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation.
November 27 onwardPlant garlic, mulch beds, lift tender bulbsGarlic wants a cold spell; bare soil loses structure over winter.

The weeks before and after the 50% dates are general rules of thumb, not NOAA figures; a seed packet gives the timing for each variety.

Where these figures come from

ZIP 71360 is 4 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. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 71360 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.

Frost dates across Louisiana →

Hardiness zone and temperature range: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023 (USDA-ARS, Oregon State University), ZIP-code listing, unchanged. °C converted from °F by this site.

Thirty-year averages, not a forecast: check the forecast before planting out. How stations are matched and which pages are offered to search engines: methodology.

ZIP codes measured at the same station

Other zone 9a places in Louisiana