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USDA Hardiness Zone 5a

Frost Dates for 53575 — Oregon, Wisconsin

NOAA 1991–2020 normals from Uw Arboretum - Madison, WI (870 ft), 8 miles north.

Updated

In Oregon, the last spring frost (32°F) is around May 1 in half of years and has passed by May 17 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around October 9, as early as September 26 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 161 days (NOAA, Uw Arboretum - Madison, WI).

Last spring frost
May 1

50% probability

First fall frost
October 9

50% probability

Growing season
161 days

freeze-free, 50%

Hardiness zone
5a

-20 to -15°F (-28.9 to -26.1°C) coldest night

First snow
December 2

median, 1991–2020

Last snow
March 23

median, 1991–2020

Winters with snow
97%

29 of 30 observed

Snow per year
—

NOAA normal

Frost risk by date in Oregon

Half of springs at Uw Arboretum - Madison, WI see their last 32°F night by May 1; only one in ten is past it by April 18, and one in ten still has one after May 17. Planting tender crops after May 7 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 11 20%, and after May 17 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 9 in half of years, as early as September 26 one year in ten, and holds off past October 24 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 11 days later, around October 20; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 3, 14 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 161 days in a typical year, longer than at 62% of the 182 Wisconsin stations; it reaches 179 days one year in ten and falls short of 140 one year in ten. On average 157 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 13, and return around October 1. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 21 and March 21.

Spring: the chance of another night this cold after the date
Low90%80%70%60%50%40%30%20%10%
36°FApr 29May 3May 7May 10May 13May 16May 20May 24May 30
32°FApr 18Apr 22Apr 25Apr 29May 1May 4May 7May 11May 17
28°FApr 7Apr 11Apr 15Apr 17Apr 20Apr 22Apr 26Apr 29May 3
24°FMar 29Apr 2Apr 4Apr 6Apr 9Apr 12Apr 15Apr 18Apr 22
20°FMar 16Mar 20Mar 25Mar 29Apr 1Apr 3Apr 6Apr 9Apr 15
16°FMar 5Mar 12Mar 15Mar 18Mar 21Mar 24Mar 29Apr 1Apr 5
Fall: the chance the first night this cold has come by the date
Low10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%
36°FSep 17Sep 22Sep 26Sep 28Oct 1Oct 3Oct 5Oct 8Oct 12
32°FSep 26Oct 1Oct 3Oct 6Oct 9Oct 12Oct 15Oct 18Oct 24
28°FOct 5Oct 11Oct 15Oct 17Oct 20Oct 23Oct 26Oct 30Nov 3
24°FOct 16Oct 23Oct 26Oct 30Nov 1Nov 3Nov 6Nov 10Nov 14
20°FOct 30Nov 2Nov 5Nov 8Nov 12Nov 14Nov 17Nov 21Nov 26
16°FNov 6Nov 12Nov 15Nov 19Nov 21Nov 24Nov 27Dec 1Dec 5

Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at Uw Arboretum - Madison, WI, from NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals. Where a temperature is reached in fewer than 99.5% of years, the dates describe only the years that reach it. Not a forecast.

Frost risk on any date in 53575 →Compare Oregon with another place →

Weather by month in Oregon

July is the warmest month at Uw Arboretum - Madison, WI, averaging 82°F by day and 61°F at night; January is the coldest at 28°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 51% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 2,708 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 84% of the 182 Wisconsin stations. 33% of them (899) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 676. Precipitation totals 40.1 inches a year, most in June (5.7") and least in January (1.7"); May to September bring 57% of it.

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Uw Arboretum - Madison, WI
MonthHigh °FLow °FPrecip. in32°F nightNights ≤ 32°FGDD 50°F
Jan28111.7100%300
Feb32141.7100%270
Mar44252.3100%2514
Apr57364.2100%1371
May69474.651%2280
Jun78575.70%0533
Jul82614.70%0676
Aug81594.10%0620
Sep74513.920%1376
Oct61393.097%9119
Nov46292.3100%2117
Dec33181.9100%291

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Uw Arboretum - Madison, WI (870 ft), NOAA NCEI. "32°F night": chance of at least one in the month. GDD: growing degree days, base 50°F.

Compared with the next station

The nearest other station, Stoughton, WI, 9 miles east of Oregon, has a last frost 1 day earlier (April 30), a first frost 2 days later (October 11), a season 2 days longer.

Frost dates for 53589 (Stoughton) →

When it snows in Oregon, Wisconsin

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Oregon 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 Uw Arboretum - Madison, WI, 8 miles away: half of years saw snow earlier, half later. Snow fell in 97% of those winters. The last 32°F night of spring typically comes 39 days after the last snow.

Planting calendar for 53575

What to do and when, from the 50% frost dates for Oregon, Wisconsin
WhenWhat to do
February 20 – March 6Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out.
March 6 – March 20Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early.
April 3 – April 17Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil.
May 1 onwardTransplant tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, cucumbersThe average last freeze has passed — still watch the actual forecast.
by July 17Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops.
by September 25Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation.
October 9 onwardPlant garlic, mulch beds, lift tender bulbsGarlic wants a cold spell; bare soil loses structure over winter.

The weeks before and after the 50% dates are general rules of thumb, not NOAA figures; a seed packet gives the timing for each variety.

Where these figures come from

ZIP 53575 is 8 miles from Uw Arboretum - Madison, WI, which stands at 870 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 8 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 53711 (Madison). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 53575 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.

Frost dates across Wisconsin →

Hardiness zone and temperature range: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023 (USDA-ARS, Oregon State University), ZIP-code listing, unchanged. °C converted from °F by this site.

Thirty-year averages, not a forecast: check the forecast before planting out. How stations are matched and which pages are offered to search engines: methodology.

ZIP codes measured at the same station

Other zone 5a places in Wisconsin