Your nature year
Baton Rouge, Louisianathrough the year
Also for Central, LA: the same nearby places.
When do frost, green-up and fall color come to Baton Rouge?
Atchafalaya Refuge, 35 miles from Baton Rouge, is the nearest spring migration spot on this site, Visit in April or May for the best birding. (local timing). For winter wildlife, the nearest is Mandalay Refuge (64 mi, Watch for bald eagles October - May. (local timing)).
Frost usually lets go around Feb 28 and comes back around Nov 26, according to NOAA's Lsu Ben-Hur Farm station, 5.6 miles away: roughly 271 days without it. About 4 weeks pass between first leaf and first bloom here. Spring green-up reaches town around Jan 26, with first blooms around Feb 21. We follow 3 places within 150 miles of Baton Rouge; the nearest lies 35 miles to the west.
Updated Sep 27. Sources: US Census Bureau, 2024 Gazetteer (places) ↗ (opens in a new tab), US Census Bureau, city and town population estimates, 2024 ↗ (opens in a new tab), NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (annual/seasonal) ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Near Baton Rouge right now
- First fall frost usually around Nov 26 · last spring frost around Feb 28NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Lsu Ben-Hur Farm (5.6 mi, 50% dates)~8 weeks
- Winter wildlife · Mandalay Refuge · 64 miLocal timing: Watch for bald eagles October - May.~1 day
Your guide around Baton Rouge
Nearby, season by season
Spring migration
- Atchafalaya Refuge · 35 miLocal timing: Visit in April or May for the best birding.~6 months
Wildlife by season
- Bayou Sauvage Refuge · 82 miLocal timing: Summer (June-August), 2013 bird list~8 months
Winter wildlife
- Mandalay Refuge · 64 miLocal timing: Watch for bald eagles October - May.~1 day
Baton Rouge's nature year
- Jan: Spring green-upJan
- Feb: Last spring frostFeb
- Spring migration · Atchafalaya RefugeApr–May
- Wildlife by season · Bayou Sauvage RefugeJun–Aug
- Winter wildlife · Mandalay RefugeOct–May
- Nov: First fall frostNov
Baton Rouge's year at a glance
- Frost possible
- Frost-free, ~Feb 28 to ~Nov 26
- First leaf ~Jan 26
- First bloom ~Feb 21
- Today
Frost and green-up
Last spring frost
Feb 28
Average (50% date)
First fall frost
Nov 26
About 271 days without frost between
Spring green-up
Jan 26
First bloom around Feb 21
Frost: NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at Lsu Ben-Hur Farm (5.6 mi from Baton Rouge), the day a 32 °F night is as likely as not. Green-up: the USA-NPN Spring Index, 1991–2020 average at the town.
Questions people ask
When is the first frost in Baton Rouge?
On average around Nov 26, and the last spring frost around Feb 28: about 271 days without frost between. These are NOAA's 1991–2020 normals at Lsu Ben-Hur Farm, 5.6 miles away (the day a 32 °F night is as likely as not).
When does spring green-up reach Baton Rouge?
The USA-NPN Spring Index puts first leaf around Jan 26 and first bloom around Feb 21, on average for 1991–2020 at the town.
Where can I see spring migration near Baton Rouge?
Atchafalaya Refuge, 35 miles (local timing: Visit in April or May for the best birding.). Distances are straight-line.
Where can I see wildlife by season near Baton Rouge?
Bayou Sauvage Refuge, 82 miles (local timing: Summer (June-August), 2013 bird list). Distances are straight-line.
How we know
US Census Bureau, 2024 Gazetteer (places) (opens in a new tab) (Sep 27) · US Census Bureau, city and town population estimates, 2024 (opens in a new tab) (Sep 27) · NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (annual/seasonal) (opens in a new tab) (Sep 27) · USA National Phenology Network, Spring Index 1991–2020 averages (opens in a new tab) (Sep 27)