Frost dates for Natchitoches, LA
At Natchitoches, the median last spring frost (32°F) is Feb 28 and the median first fall frost is Dec 1, for a typical growing season of 275 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until Mar 17. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zone 9a.
- Feb 28Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- Mar 17Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Dec 1First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 275 daysGrowing season (median)between 32°F freezes
Last spring frost dates
The chance that the temperature drops to the threshold after each date.
| Temperature | 90% chance later | 50% chance later | 10% chance later |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Feb 21 | Mar 12 | Apr 2 |
| 32°F | Jan 31 | Feb 28 | Mar 17 |
| 28°F | Jan 7 | Feb 8 | Mar 7 |
| 24°F | Dec 28 | Jan 25 | Feb 28 |
First fall frost dates
The chance that the temperature has dropped to the threshold by each date.
| Temperature | 10% chance by | 50% chance by | 90% chance by |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Nov 2 | Nov 18 | Dec 5 |
| 32°F | Nov 10 | Dec 1 | Dec 26 |
| 28°F | Nov 23 | Dec 21 | Jan 21 |
| 24°F | Dec 10 | Jan 6 | Feb 6 |
Growing season length
Days between the last spring and first fall freeze, as the length reached in 9, 5 and 1 out of 10 years.
| Temperature | 9 in 10 years at least | 5 in 10 years at least | 1 in 10 years at least |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | 222 days | 249 days | 273 days |
| 32°F | 247 days | 275 days | 308 days |
| 28°F | 276 days | 310 days | 350 days |
| 24°F | 309 days | 350 days | 365 days |
Chance of a freeze in any year
| Temperature | Chance per year |
|---|---|
| 36°F | 100% |
| 32°F | 100% |
| 28°F | 97% |
| 24°F | 68% |
ZIP codes whose closest station is this one
| ZIP | Hardiness zone | Avg. extreme low | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 71497 | 9a | 20 to 25°F | 3 km |
| 71457 | 9a | 20 to 25°F | 4 km |
| 71428 | 9a | 20 to 25°F | 18 km |
| 71469 | 9a | 20 to 25°F | 19 km |
| 71456 | 9a | 20 to 25°F | 21 km |
| 71454 | 9a | 20 to 25°F | 24 km |
| 71452 | 9a | 20 to 25°F | 25 km |
Not the official USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Zones shown here are the values published in the USDA-ARS / Oregon State University PRISM Group 2023 ZIP code tables, shown unaltered. For the official interactive map, visit planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.
About this station
- NOAA station ID USC00166582, at 31.7722, -93.0956, elevation 40 m (130 ft).
- Data quality: Representative (10+ years), 18 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 29.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Natchitoches #2 (5 km)
- Ashland (40 km)
- Many (43 km)
- Peason Ridge Range (45 km)
- Winnfield 3 N (47 km)
- Hodges Gardens (52 km)
- Boyce 3 WNW (55 km)
- Bienville 3 NE (68 km)
Sources
- NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, annual/seasonal normals by station (version 1.0.1), file dated June 27, 2023; documentation.
- USDA Agricultural Research Service and PRISM Group, Oregon State University, 2023 Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP code tables (CONUS, Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico), files dated November 17, 2023. Data © PRISM Group, Oregon State University, https://prism.oregonstate.edu, accessed November 1, 2026. Official map: planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Gazetteer ZIP Code Tabulation Areas file, dated August 30, 2024 (ZIP centroids used to find the nearest station).
Freeze dates are 30-year probabilities, not forecasts. Check your local forecast before planting tender plants.