Frost dates 2026–2027

Frost dates for Ponchatoula, Louisiana

Median (50% chance) dates of the last and first 32°F frost, from NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at Hammond 5 E, 5.8 mi away (close match).

Last spring frostMar 8
First fall frostNov 19
257 frost-free days
Last spring frostMar 81 year in 10 after Mar 31
First fall frostNov 191 year in 10 by Nov 3
Growing season257 daysbetween median 32°F dates
Hardiness zoneZone 9a20 to 25°F average extreme low

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Will it freeze in Ponchatoula in the next 7 nights?

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

Tonight: forecast low 54°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 Ponchatoula

The median first fall hard-freeze date (28°F) is December 2, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at Hammond 5 E. This is the 50% probability date, not a forecast for this year.

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 Mar 1 · Mar 25 · Apr 16 Oct 23 · Nov 6 · Nov 26 230 days
32°F freeze Feb 12 · Mar 8 · Mar 31 Nov 3 · Nov 19 · Dec 8 257 days
28°F hard freeze Jan 20 · Feb 21 · Mar 17 Nov 14 · Dec 2 · Jan 3 288 days
NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00164030. How to read these probabilities.

Average high temperature by month

1991–2020 normals at Hammond 5 E

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 Ponchatoula, LA come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: Hammond 5 E (station USC00164030, elevation 35 ft), 5.8 mi from Ponchatoula. 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 Ponchatoula

CityDistanceLast spring frostFirst fall frost
Hammond, LA 4.3 mi Mar 8 Nov 19
Covington, LA 20 mi Mar 12 Nov 18
Mandeville, LA 21 mi Mar 12 Nov 18
Walker, LA 25 mi Feb 25 Nov 26
Denham Springs, LA 31 mi Feb 25 Nov 26
Kenner, LA 32 mi Jan 30 Dec 31
Gonzales, LA 33 mi Feb 21 Dec 5
St. George, LA 35 mi Feb 28 Nov 26
Central, LA 36 mi Feb 25 Nov 26
Harahan, LA 38 mi Jan 24 Jan 2

Frequently asked questions

When is the last frost in Ponchatoula?

On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in Ponchatoula is around March 8. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after March 31, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after February 12.

When is the first frost in Ponchatoula?

The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around November 19. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by November 3 and a 90% chance by December 8.

Can it frost in Ponchatoula 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 March 25.

What growing zone is Ponchatoula?

Ponchatoula is in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 9a (average annual extreme minimum temperature 20 to 25°F), based on the 2023 USDA map for ZIP code 70403. See growing zones in Louisiana.

More: all Louisiana frost dates · Louisiana growing zones · frost vs. freeze