Frost Dates for 53502 — Albany, Wisconsin

Half of springs at Brodhead Wwtp, WI see their last 32°F night by April 29; only one in ten is past it by April 14, and one in ten still has one after May 14. Planting tender crops after May 4 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 7 20%, and after May 14 10%. The 15 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 30% of the 182 Wisconsin stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 12 in half of years, as early as September 28 one year in ten, and holds off past October 25 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 10 days later, around October 22; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 1, 13 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 165 days in a typical year, longer than at 74% of the 182 Wisconsin stations; it reaches 184 days one year in ten and falls short of 144 one year in ten. On average 151 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 10 days longer, to about May 9, and return around October 1. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 23 and March 18.

July is the warmest month at Brodhead Wwtp, WI, averaging 83°F by day and 61°F at night; January is the coldest at 27°F and 11°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from October to April (a 90% chance or more). From June to August the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, May still brings one in 44% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 2,750 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 88% of the 182 Wisconsin stations. 34% of them (930) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 684. Precipitation totals 38.5 inches a year, most in June (5.6") and least in January (1.6"); May to September bring 57% of it.

The nearest other station, Monroe Wwtp, WI, 14 miles southwest of Albany and 211 feet higher, has a last frost 2 days earlier (April 27), a first frost 2 days later (October 14), a season 5 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Albany usually arrives around November 26, and the last of the season around March 27. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Brodhead Wwtp, WI, 7.5 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 33 days after the last snow.

ZIP 53502 is 8 miles from Brodhead Wwtp, WI, which stands at 780 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 4 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 53520 (Brodhead). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 53502 in zone 5a, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged -20 to -15°F (-28.9 to -26.1°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.