Frost Dates for 71465 — Olla, Louisiana

Half of springs at Jena, LA see their last 32°F night by March 19; only one in ten is past it by February 25, and one in ten still has one after April 9. Planting tender crops after March 30 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 4 20%, and after April 9 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 12 in half of years, as early as October 29 one year in ten, and holds off past December 2 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 13 days later, around November 25; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is March 29, 11 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 238 days in a typical year, shorter than at 91% of the 88 Louisiana stations; it reaches 268 days one year in ten and falls short of 211 one year in ten. On average 42 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 14 days longer, to about April 2, and return around November 1. Nights of 24°F, cold enough to damage hardier plants, come in 97% of winters and 16°F in 31%.

July is the warmest month at Jena, LA, averaging 91°F by day and 72°F at night; January is the coldest at 57°F and 36°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from December to February (a 90% chance or more). From May to September the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, March still brings one in 76% of years and April still brings one in 27% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 6,033 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 86% of the 88 Louisiana stations. 41% of them (2,479) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 976. Precipitation totals 59.5 inches a year, most in December (5.8") and least in September (3.6"); May to September bring 36% of it.

The nearest other station, Columbia Lock, LA, 22 miles north of Olla, has a last frost 14 days earlier (March 5), a first frost 10 days later (November 22), a season 25 days longer.

Measurable snow is rare here: only 2 of 19 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Olla, LA, 3.6 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

ZIP 71465 is 13 miles from Jena, LA, which stands at 143 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 1 other ZIP code shares the station; its figures are presented in full for 71342 (Jena). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 71465 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.