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For any of us that has spent any time at all in our area, we understand Fall is a precious, albeit brief, time of year.  It seems like it goes from mosquito laden, hot & humid days, to freezing temps over night.

But as we prepare to begin raking leaves and loading up on firewood, local farmers are looking at how the changing weather will affect their crops and how to effectively plan for it.

First Morning Frosts Of Winter
Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images
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According to the Farmer's Almanac:

frost date is the average date of the last light freeze in spring or the first light freeze in fall. 

The classification of freeze temperatures is based on their effect on plants: 

  • Light freeze: 29° to 32°F (-1.7° to 0°C)—tender plants are killed. 
  • Moderate freeze: 25° to 28°F (-3.9° to -2.2°C)—widely destructive to most vegetation. 
  • Severe freeze: 24°F (-4.4°C) and colder—heavy damage to most garden plants. 

Note that frost dates are only an estimate based on historical climate data and are not set in stone. The probability of a frost occurring after the spring frost date or before the fall frost date is 30%, which means  there is still a chance of frost occurring before or after the given dates! 

First Morning Frosts Of Winter
(Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images
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Frost is predicted when air temperatures reach 32°F (0°C). Still, a frost may occur even when air temperatures are just above freezing due to open exposure to the clear night sky, which exposes surfaces to radiative cooling. Always keep an eye on your local weather forecast and plan to protect tender plants accordingly. Weather, topography, and microclimates may also cause considerable variations in the occurrence of frost in your garden. Learn how to protect plants from frost. 

Nearest Climate Station Altitude Last Spring Frost First Fall Frost Growing Season 
SHREVEPORT DWTN AP, LA 180' Mar 7 Nov 16 253 days 

Frost dates are calculated based on data from the NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. 

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