Frost dates for Lake Charles, LA
At Lake Charles, the median last spring frost (32°F) is Feb 14 and the median first fall frost is Dec 7, for a typical growing season of 299 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until Mar 11. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zones 9a to 9b.
- Feb 14Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- Mar 11Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Dec 7First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 299 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 8 | Mar 2 | Mar 24 |
| 32°F | Jan 16 | Feb 14 | Mar 11 |
| 28°F | Dec 31 | Jan 27 | Feb 28 |
| 24°F | Dec 26 | Jan 17 | Feb 12 |
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 4 | Nov 23 | Dec 13 |
| 32°F | Nov 14 | Dec 7 | Jan 7 |
| 28°F | Dec 3 | Jan 3 | Feb 1 |
| 24°F | Dec 19 | Jan 9 | Feb 5 |
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 | 236 days | 263 days | 296 days |
| 32°F | 262 days | 299 days | 333 days |
| 28°F | 297 days | 336 days | 365 days |
| 24°F | 333 days | 365 days | 365 days |
Chance of a freeze in any year
| Temperature | Chance per year |
|---|---|
| 36°F | 100% |
| 32°F | 99% |
| 28°F | 83% |
| 24°F | 38% |
ZIP codes whose closest station is this one
| ZIP | Hardiness zone | Avg. extreme low | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 70605 | 9b | 25 to 30°F | 6 km |
| 70607 | 9b | 25 to 30°F | 10 km |
| 70601 | 9a | 20 to 25°F | 11 km |
| 70630 | 9b | 25 to 30°F | 18 km |
| 70665 | 9b | 25 to 30°F | 23 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 USW00003937, at 30.1250, -93.2158, elevation 4 m (13 ft).
- Data quality: Standard (24+ years of data), 30 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 11.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Moss Bluff 2 NNW (24 km)
- Hackberry 8 SSW (32 km)
- Lake Arthur 7 SW (45 km)
- Jennings (54 km)
- Rockefeller Wl Refuge (58 km)
- Oberlin Fire Twr (68 km)
- De Ridder (80 km)
- Crowley 2 NE (84 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.