Frost Dates for 71454 — Montgomery, Louisiana

Half of springs at Natchitoches, 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 17. Planting tender crops after March 7 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after March 12 20%, and after March 17 10%. The 17 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 93% of the 88 Louisiana stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by December 1 in half of years, as early as November 10 one year in ten, and holds off past December 26 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 20 days later, around December 21; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is March 7, 10 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 275 days in a typical year, longer than at 64% of the 88 Louisiana stations; it reaches 308 days one year in ten and falls short of 247 one year in ten. On average 29 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 12 days longer, to about March 12, and return around November 18. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 68% of winters and 16°F in 3%.

July is the warmest month at Natchitoches, LA, averaging 95°F by day and 76°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 7,024 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 78% of the 88 Louisiana stations. 42% of them (2,921) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 1,102. Precipitation totals 56.1 inches a year, most in March (5.8") and least in August (3.3"); May to September bring 36% of it.

The nearest other station, Natchitoches #2, LA, 17 miles northwest of Montgomery, has a last frost 5 days later (March 5), a first frost 14 days earlier (November 17), a season 18 days shorter.

Measurable snow is rare here: only 2 of 20 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Natchitoches, LA, 15.5 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

ZIP 71454 is 16 miles from Natchitoches, LA, which stands at 130 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 71457 (Natchitoches). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 71454 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.