Frost Dates for 71418 — Columbia, Louisiana

Half of springs at Columbia Lock, LA see their last 32°F night by March 5; only one in ten is past it by February 14, and one in ten still has one after March 27. Planting tender crops after March 14 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after March 19 20%, and after March 27 10%. The 22 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 49% 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 4 one year in ten, and holds off past December 12 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 12 days later, around December 4; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is March 14, 13 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 263 days in a typical year, shorter than at 58% of the 88 Louisiana stations; it reaches 289 days one year in ten and falls short of 235 one year in ten. On average 38 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 21, and return around November 10. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 90% of winters and 16°F in 16%.

July is the warmest month at Columbia Lock, LA, averaging 93°F by day and 73°F at night; January is the coldest at 57°F and 37°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from December to February (a 90% chance or more). From April to October the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, March still brings one in 62% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 6,196 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 75% of the 88 Louisiana stations. 41% of them (2,532) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 1,012. Precipitation totals 59.3 inches a year, most in April (6.2") and least in September (3.6"); May to September bring 37% of it.

The nearest other station, Winnsboro 2 SE, LA, 21 miles east of Columbia, has a last frost 2 days later (March 7), a first frost 9 days earlier (November 13), a season 11 days shorter.

Measurable snow is rare here: only 6 of 30 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Columbia Lock, LA, 3.5 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

ZIP 71418 is 4 miles from Columbia Lock, LA, which stands at 82 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 1 other ZIP code shares the station. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 71418 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.