Frost Dates for 53140 — Kenosha, Wisconsin

Half of springs at Kenosha, WI see their last 32°F night by April 19; only one in ten is past it by April 6, and one in ten still has one after May 3. Planting tender crops after April 25 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 29 20%, and after May 3 10%. The 14 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 58% of the 182 Wisconsin stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 26 in half of years, as early as October 11 one year in ten, and holds off past November 9 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 11 days later, around November 6; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 21, 12 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 189 days in a typical year, longer than at 99% of the 182 Wisconsin stations; it reaches 208 days one year in ten and falls short of 170 one year in ten. On average 122 nights a year drop to 32°F or below. Nights of 36°F, when frost can still settle on leaves in low, open spots, continue 12 days longer, to about May 1, and return around October 17. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between December 1 and March 9.

July is the warmest month at Kenosha, WI, averaging 80°F by day and 64°F at night; January is the coldest at 31°F and 17°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from November to April (a 90% chance or more). From June to September the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, May still brings one in 14% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 2,633 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 74% of the 182 Wisconsin stations. 27% of them (706) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 679. Precipitation totals 37.5 inches a year, most in April (4.2") and least in February (1.8"); May to September bring 50% of it.

The nearest other station, Kenosha Regional Airport, WI, 6 miles west of Kenosha, has a last frost 9 days later (April 28), a first frost 7 days earlier (October 19), a season 15 days shorter.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Kenosha usually arrives around December 2, and the last of the season around March 23. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Kenosha, WI, 2.9 miles away: half of years saw snow earlier, half later. Every one of those winters saw snow. The last 32°F night of spring typically comes 27 days after the last snow.

ZIP 53140 is 3 miles from Kenosha, WI, which stands at 600 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 3 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 53142 (Kenosha). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 53140 in zone 6a, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged -10 to -5°F (-23.3 to -20.6°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.