Wisconsin Frost Dates

Wisconsin has 205 NOAA weather stations with freeze records in the 1991–2020 climate normals. The typical last spring frost ranges from April 19 at Kenosha to June 3 at North Pelican; at half the stations it has come by May 5. The first fall frost typically arrives between September 18 at North Pelican and October 29 at Milwaukee Mitchell Ap, with a median of October 6.

The growing season between the typical frosts runs from 106 days at North Pelican to 192 days at Milwaukee Mitchell Ap; 154 days at the median station.

At 1 station, a freeze is possible in any month.

Every station in Wisconsin

Typical dates have a 50% chance of a frost after them in spring, and before them in fall; safer dates, 10%. A garden can differ from its nearest station, especially in a valley or on a hillside: see why your garden may differ.

Wisconsin: freeze (32 °F) dates by NOAA station, 1991–2020 normals
StationElevationLast frostSaferFirst frostSaferSeason (days)
Afton - Janesville Wwtp762 ftApr 26May 11Oct 15Oct 1170
Alma Dam 4670 ftApr 28May 9Oct 14Sep 29168
Amery1,070 ftMay 5May 21Oct 4Sep 21151
Antigo1,519 ftMay 14May 28Sep 30Sep 14139
Appleton792 ftMay 4May 20Oct 6Sep 23154
Arlington1,052 ftMay 4May 18Oct 6Sep 23154
Ashland 3s826 ftMay 20Jun 3Oct 2Sep 19133
Ashland Kennedy Mem Ap826 ftMay 23Jun 6Sep 29Sep 14125
Augusta Rs960 ftMay 7May 20Oct 1Sep 17146
Baldwin1,100 ftMay 6May 21Oct 2Sep 18148
Baraboo823 ftMay 5May 21Oct 5Sep 22152
Bayfield 6 N820 ftMay 20Jun 5Oct 8Sep 21141
Bayfield Fish Hatchery615 ftMay 23Jun 5Oct 2Sep 17131
Beaver Dam Wwtp861 ftMay 2May 16Oct 9Sep 25157
Belgium Wwtp731 ftMay 5May 22Oct 12Sep 27159
Beloit788 ftMay 1May 16Oct 12Sep 28162
Berlin Wwtp766 ftMay 1May 16Oct 8Sep 24158
Big Falls Hydro1,205 ftMay 7May 22Oct 3Sep 18147
Blair855 ftMay 9May 23Oct 1Sep 18143
Bloomer990 ftMay 5May 19Oct 3Sep 20151
Boscobel Ap672 ftMay 3May 18Oct 7Sep 25155
Brillion810 ftMay 6May 21Oct 6Sep 23151
Brodhead Wwtp780 ftApr 29May 14Oct 12Sep 28165
Brookfield Wwtp830 ftApr 30May 15Oct 14Sep 28164
Brule Rs1,000 ftMay 24Jun 6Sep 26Sep 9124
Burlington751 ftMay 5May 23Oct 9Sep 24156
Butternut 3sw1,570 ftMay 22Jun 4Sep 24Sep 10126
Cashton 3nnw939 ftMay 6May 20Oct 3Sep 20150
Cashton1,370 ftApr 27May 11Oct 14Oct 1170
Charmany Farm1,046 ftApr 28May 11Oct 15Sep 29169
Chilton840 ftMay 1May 17Oct 14Sep 29162
Clam Lake 4w1,498 ftMay 16May 27Sep 30Sep 17136
Clinton Wwtp924 ftApr 30May 17Oct 10Sep 26161
Clintonville802 ftMay 4May 19Oct 6Sep 21154
Couderay 7 W1,300 ftA freeze is possible in any month
Crivitz High Falls950 ftMay 26Jun 11Sep 22Sep 6118
Cumberland1,240 ftMay 5May 18Oct 4Sep 23152
Dalton860 ftMay 6May 22Oct 2Sep 20150
Danbury950 ftMay 11May 28Sep 30Sep 15138
Darlington Wwtp854 ftMay 3May 19Oct 4Sep 20153
Delavan Wwtp882 ftApr 28May 14Oct 14Sep 28168
Denmark Wwtp811 ftMay 6May 20Oct 12Sep 30158
Dodge685 ftMay 5May 19Oct 5Sep 21152
Dodgeville Wwtp1,118 ftMay 3May 17Oct 7Sep 25157
Drummond1,340 ftMay 20Jun 2Oct 1Sep 19132
Durand705 ftMay 1May 15Oct 10Sep 26162
Eagle Rvr1,623 ftMay 25Jun 6Sep 24Sep 8121
Eau Claire 3sw880 ftApr 24May 7Oct 14Sep 26170
Eau Claire Rgnl Ap885 ftMay 8May 21Oct 4Sep 20149
Ellsworth 1e1,030 ftMay 13May 27Sep 29Sep 15139
Ephraim 1ne-Wwtp733 ftMay 14May 28Oct 18Oct 1155
Florence1,300 ftMay 24Jun 8Sep 25Sep 7121
Fond Du Lac 2 Sw772 ftApr 27May 11Oct 19Oct 2174
Fond Du Lac Co Ap809 ftMay 1May 17Oct 10Sep 27160
Fond Du Lac Wwtp750 ftMay 1May 17Oct 12Sep 28162
Forestville-4e690 ftMay 6May 20Oct 17Oct 1163
Foxboro932 ftJun 1Jun 14Sep 22Sep 8113
Friendship945 ftMay 9May 23Oct 3Sep 19147
Ft Atkinson800 ftApr 28May 17Oct 13Sep 29166
Gays Mills689 ftMay 3May 18Oct 7Sep 25156
Genoa Dam 8639 ftApr 22May 5Oct 17Oct 4178
Germantown850 ftMay 6May 25Oct 8Sep 26154
Goodman Sanitary Dist1,448 ftMay 24Jun 7Sep 30Sep 16128
Gordon1,040 ftMay 22Jun 4Sep 26Sep 11126
Grafton Wwtp741 ftApr 23May 9Oct 24Oct 8182
Grantsburg990 ftMay 11May 28Oct 1Sep 16141
Green Bay Botanical694 ftMay 7May 22Oct 9Sep 23154
Green Bay Wfo682 ftMay 1May 16Oct 11Sep 26160
Green Bay682 ftApr 30May 16Oct 9Sep 24161
Hales Corners/Whitnall Park/Bo774 ftMay 3May 19Oct 14Sep 30162
Hancock Exp Farm1,092 ftMay 10May 24Oct 3Sep 20146
Hartford Wwtp961 ftMay 8May 24Oct 3Sep 20148
Hayward Muni Ap1,204 ftMay 23Jun 6Sep 22Sep 5122
Hayward Rs1,200 ftMay 22Jun 6Sep 23Sep 3124
Hillsboro 2sw1,043 ftMay 12May 26Sep 29Sep 17138
Hillsboro940 ftMay 5May 18Oct 4Sep 23153
Hingham Wwtp763 ftMay 3May 18Oct 16Oct 2165
Holcombe1,057 ftMay 5May 21Oct 2Sep 19149
Horicon Wwtp881 ftMay 1May 19Oct 10Sep 27158
Hurley1,444 ftMay 24Jun 7Sep 28Sep 13128
Hustisford Wwtp864 ftApr 28May 13Oct 10Sep 26164
Jackson903 ftApr 30May 15Oct 15Oct 1167
Jefferson Wwtp783 ftApr 25May 9Oct 18Oct 2173
Jim Falls 3nw1,070 ftMay 1May 16Oct 8Sep 22158
Jump Rvr 3e1,265 ftMay 20Jun 4Sep 23Sep 6125
Kenosha Rgnl Ap743 ftApr 28May 13Oct 19Oct 1174
Kenosha600 ftApr 19May 3Oct 26Oct 11189
Kewaunee593 ftMay 1May 17Oct 18Oct 2168
La Crosse Muni Ap652 ftApr 23May 6Oct 17Oct 3177
La Crosse Wfo1,307 ftApr 27May 12Oct 13Sep 28167
Ladysmith 3w1,130 ftMay 27Jun 8Sep 22Sep 6117
Lake Geneva Wwtp846 ftApr 25May 10Oct 21Oct 5179
Lake Mills Wwtp811 ftApr 29May 13Oct 14Sep 29167
Lakewood 3 Ne1,196 ftMay 22Jun 3Sep 28Sep 12129
Lancaster 4 Wsw1,040 ftApr 27May 11Oct 11Sep 27166
Laona 6 Sw1,695 ftMay 19Jun 2Sep 29Sep 15131
Lodi824 ftMay 1May 15Oct 10Sep 27162
Lone Rock Tri Co Ap717 ftApr 30May 14Oct 9Sep 25161
Luck1,220 ftMay 6May 20Oct 4Sep 19149
Lynxville Dam 9633 ftApr 24May 8Oct 17Oct 4175
Madeline Island660 ftMay 20Jun 3Oct 9Sep 25140
Madison Dane Rgnl Ap866 ftMay 1May 16Oct 10Sep 26160
Manitowoc584 ftApr 30May 15Oct 20Oct 3171
Marinette589 ftMay 4May 20Oct 11Sep 29160
Markesan861 ftMay 8May 23Oct 2Sep 19144
Marshfield Exp Farm1,237 ftMay 5May 20Oct 5Sep 22150
Marshfield Muni Ap1,255 ftMay 5May 20Oct 5Sep 21152
Mather 3 Nw978 ftMay 6May 20Oct 3Sep 19148
Mauston 1 Se865 ftMay 2May 15Oct 7Sep 26158
Mazomanie Wwtp764 ftMay 7May 22Oct 1Sep 18148
Medford1,470 ftMay 11May 26Oct 1Sep 17141
Mellen 4 Ne1,300 ftMay 26Jun 9Sep 27Sep 12125
Menomonie780 ftMay 9May 24Oct 1Sep 19143
Merrill1,250 ftMay 11May 27Sep 30Sep 17139
Milwaukee Mitchell Ap670 ftApr 19May 2Oct 29Oct 15192
Minocqua1,601 ftMay 23Jun 6Sep 27Sep 9127
Minong 5 Wsw1,075 ftMay 10May 26Oct 4Sep 21144
Mondovi830 ftMay 10May 25Oct 2Sep 19144
Monroe Wwtp991 ftApr 27May 12Oct 14Sep 29170
Montello786 ftMay 3May 18Oct 5Sep 22153
Mt Mary College715 ftApr 26May 12Oct 18Oct 2173
Necedah 5 Wnw933 ftMay 1May 14Oct 3Sep 20157
Necedah922 ftMay 17Jun 1Sep 25Sep 12131
Neillsville 3ese1,080 ftMay 10May 25Oct 1Sep 18144
New London800 ftMay 4May 19Oct 6Sep 22153
North Pelican1,610 ftJun 3Jun 27Sep 18Sep 1106
Oconomowoc Wwtp858 ftApr 30May 17Oct 12Sep 29164
Oconto 4 W660 ftMay 9May 23Oct 6Sep 22150
Oshkosh Wittman Ap782 ftApr 30May 13Oct 13Sep 29165
Oshkosh750 ftApr 24May 8Oct 20Oct 4178
Owen 1e1,238 ftMay 13May 29Sep 26Sep 12136
Paddock Lake775 ftApr 30May 16Oct 15Sep 30167
Park Falls Dnr Hq1,525 ftMay 15May 30Sep 28Sep 16134
Pattison Ranger Staion1,100 ftMay 18Jun 3Oct 3Sep 20135
Pell Lake840 ftApr 30May 16Oct 13Sep 28164
Peshtigo600 ftMay 11May 26Oct 5Sep 21145
Platteville990 ftApr 30May 13Oct 13Sep 29166
Plymouth Wwtp828 ftMay 3May 20Oct 10Sep 28159
Port Washington594 ftApr 27May 14Oct 22Oct 6176
Port Wing651 ftMay 31Jun 13Oct 2Sep 17123
Portage Wwtp785 ftApr 28May 12Oct 10Sep 26164
Prairie Du Chien658 ftApr 28May 11Oct 12Sep 27166
Prentice #21,540 ftMay 23Jun 6Sep 23Sep 5124
Racine Batten Ap674 ftApr 24May 10Oct 24Oct 10180
Racine595 ftApr 20May 6Oct 24Oct 8184
Reedsburg926 ftMay 2May 16Oct 7Sep 23156
Rest Lake1,612 ftMay 25Jun 9Sep 21Sep 3117
Rhinelander 4ne1,586 ftMay 23Jun 5Sep 23Sep 7124
Rhinelander Oneida Ap1,599 ftMay 26Jun 8Sep 23Sep 5120
Rhinelander1,572 ftMay 22Jun 4Sep 24Sep 9125
Rice Lake1,103 ftMay 8May 23Oct 2Sep 19145
Rice Rsvr Tomahawk-21,460 ftMay 10May 27Oct 4Sep 21146
Richfield 3 Ssw984 ftApr 30May 16Oct 16Oct 1167
Richland Ctr728 ftMay 5May 19Oct 6Sep 24154
Ridgeland 1nne1,080 ftMay 10May 26Sep 29Sep 13140
Ripon 5 Ne930 ftMay 1May 14Oct 11Sep 26163
River Falls940 ftMay 11May 26Oct 1Sep 19143
Rochester Wwtp783 ftMay 5May 23Oct 10Sep 26156
Rock Springs 3 Sw1,260 ftApr 24May 7Oct 20Oct 1178
Rosholt 9 Nne1,183 ftMay 6May 21Oct 5Sep 22150
Sauk City Wwtp750 ftMay 4May 18Oct 6Sep 23155
Saukville Wwtp766 ftMay 5May 19Oct 11Sep 29158
Saxon 1wsw1,165 ftMay 23Jun 5Oct 1Sep 18132
Shawano 2ssw806 ftMay 9May 24Oct 2Sep 18144
Sheboygan Co Mem Ap746 ftMay 5May 21Oct 8Sep 26154
Sheboygan Wwtp603 ftMay 2May 19Oct 21Oct 3169
Sheboygan648 ftApr 25May 11Oct 23Oct 9179
Slinger Wwtp1,029 ftMay 5May 20Oct 5Sep 22152
Solon Springs1,130 ftMay 12May 27Oct 2Sep 17142
South Milwaukee Wwtp650 ftApr 22May 8Oct 26Oct 10184
Sparta782 ftMay 9May 22Oct 1Sep 18144
Spooner Ag Res Stn1,100 ftMay 14May 29Sep 28Sep 14135
St Croix Falls750 ftMay 4May 18Oct 8Sep 24156
St Germain1,643 ftMay 19May 31Oct 3Sep 18136
Stanley Wwtp1,080 ftMay 7May 21Oct 3Sep 20147
Steuben 4 Se1,015 ftApr 22May 8Oct 20Oct 5179
Stevens Pt1,079 ftMay 4May 20Oct 7Sep 24155
Stockbridge-Munsee Rsvn1,050 ftMay 13May 26Sep 30Sep 17141
Stoughton840 ftApr 30May 15Oct 11Sep 28163
Sturgeon Bay Exp Farm699 ftMay 8May 21Oct 13Sep 28157
Sullivan 3se933 ftMay 3May 21Oct 9Sep 25157
Superior607 ftMay 6May 25Oct 9Sep 24154
Suring792 ftMay 14May 29Oct 1Sep 19139
Town Of Westford879 ftMay 1May 16Oct 11Sep 27163
Trempealeau Dam 6660 ftApr 29May 13Oct 11Sep 26165
Two Rivers589 ftApr 27May 10Oct 21Oct 4175
Union Grove730 ftMay 5May 20Oct 8Sep 27156
Uw Arboretum - Madison870 ftMay 1May 17Oct 9Sep 26161
Viroqua1,255 ftMay 7May 21Oct 2Sep 18148
W Bend Public Works980 ftMay 1May 18Oct 12Sep 28161
Washington Is686 ftMay 15May 31Oct 14Sep 28152
Waterloo Wwtp800 ftApr 30May 15Oct 9Sep 27163
Watertown Wwtp825 ftApr 28May 13Oct 12Sep 28167
Waukesha Wwtp789 ftMay 1May 18Oct 13Sep 29162
Waupaca837 ftMay 8May 21Oct 6Sep 23151
Wausau Dwtn Ap1,181 ftMay 6May 21Oct 4Sep 21150
West Allis723 ftApr 26May 12Oct 22Oct 7177
West Bend940 ftMay 4May 21Oct 11Sep 26157
Weyerhaeuser 1n1,195 ftMay 9May 27Sep 29Sep 14140
Whitewater875 ftMay 2May 20Oct 9Sep 25157
Willow Rsvr1,532 ftMay 13May 27Oct 3Sep 16141
Winter1,355 ftMay 19Jun 3Sep 27Sep 8129
Wisconsin Dells835 ftMay 8May 22Oct 3Sep 21146
Wisconsin Rapids Alexander Fld1,019 ftMay 8May 22Oct 1Sep 19145
Wisconsin Rapids1,033 ftMay 9May 24Sep 30Sep 17142

Plan your garden with these dates

Enter your ZIP code in the planner: it picks the nearest of these stations and dates every crop in your beds from its frosts. Free, in your browser.

Questions

When is the last frost in Wisconsin?

It depends on where you are. The typical last spring frost at Wisconsin's NOAA stations ranges from April 19 to June 3, and half of them have had it by May 5. Enter your ZIP code above for the station nearest you.

When is the first frost in Wisconsin?

Typically between September 18 and October 29, depending on the station; the median is October 6. Plan fall crops back from your own station's date.

What do "typical" and "safer" mean?

With the typical (50%) last-frost date, half of years still have a frost after it. With the safer (10%) date, only one year in ten does. In fall it's the other way around: the safer date is the earlier one.

Other states

Sources

  1. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (annual/seasonal, by station: freeze dates at 32 °F)