Frost Dates for 53405 — Racine, Wisconsin

Half of springs at Racine, WI see their last 32°F night by April 20; only one in ten is past it by April 7, and one in ten still has one after May 6. Planting tender crops after April 27 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 1 20%, and after May 6 10%. The 16 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is wider than at 70% of the 182 Wisconsin stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 24 in half of years, as early as October 8 one year in ten, and holds off past November 5 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 10 days later, around November 3; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 23, 13 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 184 days in a typical year, longer than at 98% of the 182 Wisconsin stations; it reaches 203 days one year in ten and falls short of 162 one year in ten. On average 119 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 14 days longer, to about May 4, and return around October 13. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 29 and March 12.

July is the warmest month at Racine, WI, averaging 79°F by day and 64°F at night; January is the coldest at 30°F and 15°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 22% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 2,433 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 51% of the 182 Wisconsin stations. 25% of them (617) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 651. Precipitation totals 37.0 inches a year, most in June (4.4") and least in February (1.9"); May to September bring 52% of it.

The nearest other station, Racine Batten Airport, WI, 3 miles north of Racine, has a last frost 4 days later (April 24), the same first-frost date, a season 4 days shorter.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Racine usually arrives around November 27, and the last of the season around March 31. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Racine, WI, 2.1 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 20 days after the last snow.

ZIP 53405 is 2 miles from Racine, WI, which stands at 595 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 1 other ZIP code shares the station. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 53405 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.