Frost Dates for 53581 — Richland Center, Wisconsin

Half of springs at Richland Ctr, WI see their last 32°F night by May 5; only one in ten is past it by April 21, and one in ten still has one after May 19. Planting tender crops after May 11 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 14 20%, and after May 19 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 6 in half of years, as early as September 24 one year in ten, and holds off past October 18 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 11 days later, around October 17; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 9, 10 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 154 days in a typical year, shorter than at 53% of the 182 Wisconsin stations; it reaches 172 days one year in ten and falls short of 135 one year in ten. On average 166 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 11 days longer, to about May 16, and return around September 29. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 17 and March 23.

July is the warmest month at Richland Ctr, WI, averaging 82°F by day and 60°F at night; January is the coldest at 27°F and 8°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 65% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 2,479 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 55% of the 182 Wisconsin stations. 33% of them (818) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 643. Precipitation totals 39.5 inches a year, most in June (6.0") and least in February (1.1"); May to September bring 62% of it.

The nearest other station, Lone Rock Tri Co Airport, WI, 15 miles southeast of Richland Center, has a last frost 5 days earlier (April 30), a first frost 3 days later (October 9), a season 7 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Richland Center usually arrives around November 21, and the last of the season around March 25. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Richland Ctr, WI, 2.3 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 41 days after the last snow.

ZIP 53581 is 2 miles from Richland Ctr, WI, which stands at 728 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 53581 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.