Frost Dates for 71429 — Florien, Louisiana

Half of springs at Hodges Gardens, LA see their last 32°F night by March 3; only one in ten is past it by February 9, and one in ten still has one after March 22. Planting tender crops after March 11 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after March 15 20%, and after March 22 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 20 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 15 days later, around December 12; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is March 11, 11 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 297 days one year in ten and falls short of 242 one year in ten. On average 25 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 16, and return around November 13. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 84% of winters and 16°F in 10%.

August is the warmest month at Hodges Gardens, LA, averaging 94°F by day and 72°F at night; January is the coldest at 58°F and 38°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 88% of years and March still brings one in 57% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 6,446 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 60% of the 88 Louisiana stations. 41% of them (2,668) have built up by the end of June, and August adds the most, 1,018. Precipitation totals 58.9 inches a year, most in January (6.0") and least in July (3.7"); May to September bring 37% of it.

The nearest other station, Many, LA, 13 miles north of Florien and 165 feet lower, has a last frost 17 days later (March 20), a first frost 18 days earlier (November 9), a season 31 days shorter.

Measurable snow is rare here: only 1 of 16 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Hodges Gardens, LA, 3.5 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

ZIP 71429 is 4 miles from Hodges Gardens, LA, which stands at 420 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 71429 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.