Frost dates for Lafayette, LA
At Lafayette, the median last spring frost (32°F) is Feb 26 and the median first fall frost is Nov 28, for a typical growing season of 279 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until Mar 20. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zone 9a.
- Feb 26Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- Mar 20Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Nov 28First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 279 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 17 | Mar 11 | Apr 3 |
| 32°F | Jan 29 | Feb 26 | Mar 20 |
| 28°F | Jan 2 | Feb 5 | Mar 8 |
| 24°F | Dec 24 | Jan 26 | Feb 27 |
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 1 | Nov 13 | Dec 4 |
| 32°F | Nov 7 | Nov 28 | Dec 26 |
| 28°F | Nov 18 | Dec 14 | Jan 18 |
| 24°F | Dec 5 | Jan 3 | Feb 4 |
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 | 221 days | 250 days | 279 days |
| 32°F | 247 days | 279 days | 312 days |
| 28°F | 276 days | 313 days | 352 days |
| 24°F | 307 days | 346 days | 365 days |
Chance of a freeze in any year
| Temperature | Chance per year |
|---|---|
| 36°F | 100% |
| 32°F | 100% |
| 28°F | 93% |
| 24°F | 66% |
ZIP codes whose closest station is this one
| ZIP | Hardiness zone | Avg. extreme low | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 70506 | 9a | 20 to 25°F | 3 km |
| 70503 | 9a | 20 to 25°F | 5 km |
| 70583 | 9a | 20 to 25°F | 7 km |
| 70507 | 9a | 20 to 25°F | 7 km |
| 70529 | 9a | 20 to 25°F | 9 km |
| 70558 | 9a | 20 to 25°F | 13 km |
| 70555 | 9a | 20 to 25°F | 17 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 USC00165021, at 30.2192, -92.0650, elevation 8 m (25 ft).
- Data quality: Representative (10+ years), 21 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 18.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Lafayette Regional Airport (8 km)
- Grand Coteau (22 km)
- Lafayette 13 SE (23 km)
- St. Martinville 3 SW (24 km)
- New Iberia Acadiana Airport (27 km)
- New Iberia Acadiana Regional Airport (27 km)
- Crowley 2 NE (27 km)
- Jeanerette 5 NW (45 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.