Frost dates 2026–2027

Frost dates for New Orleans, Louisiana

Median (50% chance) dates of the last and first 32°F frost, from NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at New Orleans Lakefront Airport, 5.7 mi away (close match).

Last spring frostJan 22
First fall frostJan 5
348 frost-free days
Last spring frostJan 221 year in 10 after Feb 23
First fall frostJan 51 year in 10 by Dec 13
Growing season348 daysbetween median 32°F dates
Hardiness zoneZone 9b25 to 30°F average extreme low

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Will it freeze in New Orleans in the next 7 nights?

No overnight lows at or below 32°F are forecast in New Orleans during the next 7 nights in the available NWS frost forecast.

Tonight: forecast low 64°F. Above 36°F.

NWS forecast period: Thu, Nov 5, 6:00 PM CST to Fri, Nov 6, 6:00 AM CST.

No nights at or below 36°F in the National Weather Service forecast for the next 7 nights.

Overnight lows from the National Weather Service forecast for this location. This covers the available forecast window, not the first freeze of the whole season. Frost can form above 32°F on clear, calm nights.

Frost and freeze probabilities

Freeze dates shift from year to year. Spring percentages describe the chance of a freeze after the stated date; fall percentages describe the chance of a freeze by that date. The 10% spring date is the cautious one: a later freeze happens about 1 year in 10.

These dates describe historical probabilities, not this year’s forecast or the earliest and latest possible freezes. Different weather stations or probability thresholds can produce different published dates for the same city.

Average first hard freeze in New Orleans

Most years have no 28°F hard freeze at New Orleans Lakefront Airport, according to NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals. Check the short-term forecast above during cold snaps.

TemperatureLast spring date
90% · 50% · 10% chance of a later freeze
First fall date
10% · 50% · 90% chance of an earlier freeze
Season
36°F frost possible Jan 5 · Feb 4 · Mar 7 Nov 30 · Dec 26 · Jan 19 321 days
32°F freeze Dec 28 · Jan 22 · Feb 23 Dec 13 · Jan 5 · Feb 1 348 days
28°F hard freeze Dec 26 · Jan 18 · Feb 11 Dec 23 · Jan 11 · Feb 4 365 days
NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USW00053917. How to read these probabilities.

Average high temperature by month

1991–2020 normals at New Orleans Lakefront Airport

Average low temperature by month

Months with lows near or below freezing carry frost risk

Where these frost dates come from

The frost dates for New Orleans, LA come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: New Orleans Lakefront Airport (station USW00053917, elevation 9 ft), 5.7 mi from New Orleans. Local conditions (valleys, hilltops, distance to water, city heat) can shift frost dates by days or weeks. The hardiness zone is from the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (USDA ARS and Oregon State University PRISM). See our methodology.

Frost dates near New Orleans

CityDistanceLast spring frostFirst fall frost
Gretna, LA 12 mi Feb 1 Dec 31
Westwego, LA 16 mi Jan 24 Jan 2
Harahan, LA 18 mi Jan 24 Jan 2
Slidell, LA 19 mi Feb 24 Dec 1
Kenner, LA 19 mi Jan 30 Dec 31
Mandeville, LA 24 mi Mar 12 Nov 18
Covington, LA 31 mi Mar 12 Nov 18
Waveland, MS 37 mi Feb 21 Dec 3
Picayune, MS 37 mi Mar 9 Nov 18
Bay St. Louis, MS 39 mi Feb 21 Dec 3

Frequently asked questions

When is the last frost in New Orleans?

On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in New Orleans is around January 22. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after February 23, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after December 28.

When is the first frost in New Orleans?

The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around January 5. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by December 13 and a 90% chance by February 1.

Can it frost in New Orleans after the last frost date?

Yes. Frost can form on clear, calm nights even when the air stays above 32°F. Temperatures of 36°F or lower, cold enough for frost on exposed plants, have a 50% chance of occurring after February 4.

What growing zone is New Orleans?

New Orleans is in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 9b (average annual extreme minimum temperature 25 to 30°F), based on the 2023 USDA map for ZIP code 70128. See growing zones in Louisiana.

More: all Louisiana frost dates · Louisiana growing zones · UV index today in New Orleans · frost vs. freeze