U.S. Frost Dates by Weather Station

NOAA station USC00165266 · Louisiana

Frost Dates for Leesville, LA

NOAA weather station Leesville (USC00165266), Louisiana · elevation 28 ft (9 m) · hardiness zone 8b*

  • Lower-risk planting dateafter April 12only 1 spring in 10 still has a frost later
  • Typical last frostMarch 2050% chance of a frost after it
  • Typical first fall frostNovember 950% chance of a frost before it
  • Frost-free season234 daystypical year, 32°F
  • Hardiness zone8bcalculated*

The year at a glance

Frost season at Leesville, LASpring: a frost after February 24 in 9 years out of 10, after March 20 in half of the years, after April 12 in 1 year out of 10. Fall: the first frost comes before October 26 in 1 year out of 10, before November 9 in half of the years, before December 1 in 9 years out of 10. Typical frost-free season: 234 days.JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecLast frost ~Mar 20First frost ~Nov 9Frost season at Leesville, LASpring: a frost after February 24 in 9 years out of 10, after March 20 in half of the years, after April 12 in 1 year out of 10. Fall: the first frost comes before October 26 in 1 year out of 10, before November 9 in half of the years, before December 1 in 9 years out of 10. Typical frost-free season: 234 days.JFMAMJJASONDLast frost ~Mar 20First frost ~Nov 9
frost likely chance fading 90% → 10% frost-free in a typical yearThe year at a glance. Blue: frost is likely; the gradient fades as the chance drops from 90% to 10%; green: the frost-free part of a typical year.

Frost dates (32°F)

Probability of frost, based on 29 years of NOAA records (1991–2020 normals)
ChanceLast frost in spring afterFirst frost in fall before
10% (unlikely)April 12October 26
50% (typical)March 20November 9
90% (likely)February 24December 1
Frost-free season (32°F, 50% chance)
234 days
Hard frost (28°F), last in spring, 50% chance after
February 28
Hard frost (28°F), first in fall, 50% chance before
November 23

The last 15 years (2006–2020 normals)

Typical last frost March 18 (2 days earlier than the 30-year normal), typical first fall frost November 11 (2 days later). Frost-free season 238 days.

A shorter, more recent NOAA period. The 30-year normals above remain the main reference: 15 years carry more year-to-year noise.

Add these dates to your calendar Yearly reminders for the typical last frost, the lower-risk planting date and the typical first fall frost (.ics).

How the chance of frost changes with the date

Spring at Leesville: chance of a frost after this dateSpring, chance of a frost after the date: 10% April 12, 20% April 5, 30% April 1, 40% March 25, 50% March 20, 60% March 15, 70% March 10, 80% March 2, 90% February 24. Observed last spring frost in recent years: 2021 April 2, 2022 March 13, 2023 March 20, 2024 March 20, 2025 March 21, 2026 February 24.Spring: last frostChance of a frost after this date10%50%90%Mar 1Apr 1Apr 12Mar 20Feb 242021: April 22022: March 132023: March 202024: March 202025: March 212026: February 24Fall at Leesville: chance of a frost before this dateFall, chance of a frost before the date: 10% October 26, 20% October 31, 30% November 3, 40% November 5, 50% November 9, 60% November 13, 70% November 17, 80% November 22, 90% December 1. Observed first fall frost in recent years: 2021 December 22, 2022 October 19, 2023 November 2, 2024 November 30, 2025 November 10.Fall: first frostChance of a frost before this date10%50%90%Nov 1Dec 1Oct 26Nov 9Dec 12021: December 222022: October 192023: November 22024: November 302025: November 10
Two charts, because spring and fall answer different questions: in spring, the chance that a frost still comes after a date; in fall, the chance that the first frost has already come before it. NOAA publishes these odds from 10% to 90%, so the lines stop there. ◆ marks the actual date in each recent year.

What actually happened in recent years

Observed dates of the last spring and first fall frost (32°F) at this station; ◆ marks them on the charts above
YearLast spring frostFirst fall frost
2021April 2December 22
2022March 13October 19
2023March 20November 2
2024March 20November 30
2025March 21November 10
2026February 24season not over yet

What these dates mean

October 26 is the cautious fall date in Leesville for finishing the harvest of tender crops, and April 12 is the cautious spring date for setting them out, each carrying only a 10% chance of a light frost occurring earlier (fall) or later (spring). The earlier spring date of February 24 and the later fall date of December 1 involve a 90% chance of a light frost and should be treated as gambles for tender varieties.

The 50% light-frost dates are March 20 in spring and November 9 in fall; on those days the probability of a light frost is evenly split, giving gardeners a clear midpoint for risk assessment. The hard-frost median dates are February 28 for spring and November 23 for fall, and a hard frost matters more than a light frost because the lower temperature can damage or kill plants that survive a 32 °F event.

How to read the probabilities

The dates are probabilities from 30 years of weather, not a forecast for this year.

  • Spring: "10% after April 12" means that in about one spring out of ten a frost still happens after that date. The 90% date is the earliest: a frost after it happens in most years.
  • Fall: "10% before October 26" means that in about one fall out of ten the first frost arrives before that date.
  • 50% is the typical date: half of the years are earlier, half are later.
  • A light frost (32°F) damages tender plants; a hard frost (28°F) also stops most hardy vegetables.

Nearby weather stations

Map of weather stations near Leesville, LANumbered nearest stations: 1 — Boyce, LA — 35 mi; 2 — Alexandria, LA — 48 mi; 3 — Town Bluff Dam, TX — 61 mi; 4 — Bunkie, LA — 64 mi; 5 — Orange, TX — 70 mi.LATX25 mi · 40 km1. Boyce, LA — 35 mi12. Alexandria, LA — 48 mi23. Town Bluff Dam, TX — 61 mi34. Bunkie, LA — 64 mi45. Orange, TX — 70 mi5
  1. Boyce, LA 35 mi (57 km)
  2. Alexandria, LA 48 mi (77 km)
  3. Town Bluff Dam, TX 61 mi (98 km)
  4. Bunkie, LA 64 mi (103 km)
  5. Orange, TX 70 mi (112 km)

Sources

* Hardiness zone 8b: zone derived from PRISM 2023 grid at the station location (not the official USDA map). Source data: PRISM Group, Oregon State University.

Station coordinates: 31.1417, -93.2397.