Frost Dates for 53916 — Beaver Dam, Wisconsin

Half of springs at Beaver Dam Wwtp, WI see their last 32°F night by May 2; only one in ten is past it by April 19, and one in ten still has one after May 16. Planting tender crops after May 7 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 11 20%, and after May 16 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 9 in half of years, as early as September 25 one year in ten, and holds off past October 23 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 6, 10 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 157 days in a typical year, longer than at 53% of the 182 Wisconsin stations; it reaches 178 days one year in ten and falls short of 138 one year in ten. On average 152 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 13, and return around September 29. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 18 and March 23.

July is the warmest month at Beaver Dam Wwtp, WI, averaging 80°F by day and 60°F at night; January is the coldest at 25°F and 9°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 56% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 2,374 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 59% of the 182 Wisconsin stations. 32% of them (766) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 618. Precipitation totals 36.3 inches a year, most in June (5.0") and least in February (1.4"); May to September bring 57% of it.

The nearest other station, Town Of Westford, WI, 2 miles northwest of Beaver Dam, has a last frost 1 day earlier (May 1), a first frost 2 days later (October 11), a season 6 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Beaver Dam usually arrives around November 24, and the last of the season around April 2. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Beaver Dam Wwtp, WI, 1 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 30 days after the last snow.

ZIP 53916 is 1 mile from Beaver Dam Wwtp, WI, which stands at 861 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 53916 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.