Frost dates for New Orleans Intl Airport, LA
At New Orleans Intl Airport, the median last spring frost (32°F) is Jan 30 and the median first fall frost is Dec 31, for a typical growing season of 333 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until Feb 27. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zone 9b.
- Jan 30Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- Feb 27Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Dec 31First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 333 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 | Jan 20 | Feb 16 | Mar 12 |
| 32°F | Dec 29 | Jan 30 | Feb 27 |
| 28°F | Dec 24 | Jan 20 | Feb 14 |
| 24°F | Jan 1 | Jan 18 | Feb 9 |
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 16 | Dec 9 | Jan 8 |
| 32°F | Dec 1 | Dec 31 | Jan 31 |
| 28°F | Dec 11 | Jan 7 | Feb 6 |
| 24°F | Dec 24 | Jan 12 | Feb 8 |
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 | 261 days | 297 days | 332 days |
| 32°F | 296 days | 333 days | 365 days |
| 28°F | 327 days | 365 days | 365 days |
| 24°F | 352 days | 365 days | 365 days |
Chance of a freeze in any year
| Temperature | Chance per year |
|---|---|
| 36°F | 99% |
| 32°F | 87% |
| 28°F | 50% |
| 24°F | 17% |
ZIP codes whose closest station is this one
| ZIP | Hardiness zone | Avg. extreme low | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 70062 | 9b | 25 to 30°F | 1 km |
| 70065 | 9b | 25 to 30°F | 4 km |
| 70003 | 9b | 25 to 30°F | 4 km |
| 70006 | 9b | 25 to 30°F | 6 km |
| 70123 | 9b | 25 to 30°F | 7 km |
| 70087 | 9b | 25 to 30°F | 7 km |
| 70031 | 9b | 25 to 30°F | 7 km |
| 70001 | 9b | 25 to 30°F | 8 km |
| 70002 | 9b | 25 to 30°F | 9 km |
| 70047 | 9b | 25 to 30°F | 10 km |
| 70079 | 9b | 25 to 30°F | 16 km |
| 70039 | 9b | 25 to 30°F | 18 km |
| 70070 | 9b | 25 to 30°F | 19 km |
| 70080 | 9b | 25 to 30°F | 21 km |
| 70030 | 9b | 25 to 30°F | 27 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 USW00012916, at 29.9933, -90.2511, elevation 1 m (4 ft).
- Data quality: Standard (24+ years of data), 25 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 5.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- New Orleans Audubon (14 km)
- New Orleans Lakefront Airport (22 km)
- Terrytown 3s (23 km)
- Chalmette (26 km)
- Marrero 9 SSW (27 km)
- New Orleans Alvin Callender Fl (30 km)
- Reserve (32 km)
- St. Bernard (43 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.