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USDA Hardiness Zone 5a

Frost Dates for 53919 — Brandon, Wisconsin

NOAA 1991–2020 normals from Ripon 5 NE, WI (930 ft), 11 miles north.

Updated

In Brandon, the last spring frost (32°F) is around May 1 in half of years and has passed by May 14 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around October 11, as early as September 26 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 163 days (NOAA, Ripon 5 NE, WI).

Last spring frost
May 1

50% probability

First fall frost
October 11

50% probability

Growing season
163 days

freeze-free, 50%

Hardiness zone
5a

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

First snow
November 22

median, 1991–2020

Last snow
April 2

median, 1991–2020

Winters with snow
100%

24 of 24 observed

Snow per year
37.6"

NOAA normal

Frost risk by date in Brandon

Half of springs at Ripon 5 NE, WI see their last 32°F night by May 1; only one in ten is past it by April 16, and one in ten still has one after May 14. Planting tender crops after May 6 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 9 20%, and after May 14 10%. The 13 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 84% of the 182 Wisconsin stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 11 in half of years, as early as September 26 one year in ten, and holds off past October 26 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 13 days later, around October 24; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 5, 9 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 163 days in a typical year, longer than at 69% of the 182 Wisconsin stations; it reaches 182 days one year in ten and falls short of 142 one year in ten. On average 153 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 11, and return around October 1. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 23 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 6May 9May 11May 14May 17May 20May 24
32°FApr 16Apr 21Apr 25Apr 28May 1May 3May 6May 9May 14
28°FApr 5Apr 9Apr 13Apr 16Apr 19Apr 22Apr 26Apr 30May 5
24°FMar 24Mar 31Apr 3Apr 4Apr 7Apr 10Apr 13Apr 17Apr 23
20°FMar 15Mar 20Mar 24Mar 28Mar 31Apr 2Apr 4Apr 7Apr 12
16°FMar 7Mar 12Mar 16Mar 18Mar 21Mar 25Mar 29Mar 31Apr 4
Fall: the chance the first night this cold has come by the date
Low10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%
36°FSep 19Sep 23Sep 26Sep 29Oct 1Oct 4Oct 6Oct 10Oct 13
32°FSep 26Oct 1Oct 5Oct 8Oct 11Oct 14Oct 17Oct 21Oct 26
28°FOct 8Oct 14Oct 18Oct 21Oct 24Oct 27Oct 30Nov 2Nov 6
24°FOct 21Oct 27Oct 31Nov 2Nov 4Nov 7Nov 10Nov 13Nov 18
20°FNov 1Nov 5Nov 8Nov 11Nov 14Nov 17Nov 19Nov 22Nov 27
16°FNov 8Nov 13Nov 17Nov 20Nov 23Nov 25Nov 28Dec 1Dec 6

Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at Ripon 5 NE, 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 53919 →Compare Brandon with another place →

Weather by month in Brandon

July is the warmest month at Ripon 5 NE, WI, averaging 80°F by day and 60°F at night; January is the coldest at 25°F and 10°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 50% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 2,409 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 52% of the 182 Wisconsin stations. 32% of them (783) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 620. Precipitation totals 31.5 inches a year, most in June (4.8") and least in February (0.9"); May to September bring 60% of it.

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Ripon 5 NE, WI
MonthHigh °FLow °FPrecip. in32°F nightNights ≤ 32°FGDD 50°F
Jan25101.0100%300
Feb28120.9100%280
Mar40221.7100%2512
Apr54342.9100%1348
May67463.950%1229
Jun76574.80%0494
Jul80603.90%0620
Aug78593.20%0570
Sep72513.218%<1343
Oct58392.797%788
Nov43281.9100%205
Dec30161.4100%290

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Ripon 5 NE, WI (930 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, Markesan, WI, 11 miles west of Brandon, has a last frost 7 days later (May 8), a first frost 9 days earlier (October 2), a season 19 days shorter.

Frost dates for 53946 (Markesan) →

When it snows in Brandon, Wisconsin

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Brandon usually arrives around November 22, and the last of the season around April 2. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Ripon 5 NE, WI, 10.7 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 29 days after the last snow.

Planting calendar for 53919

What to do and when, from the 50% frost dates for Brandon, 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 19Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops.
by September 27Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation.
October 11 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 53919 is 11 miles from Ripon 5 NE, WI, which stands at 930 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 1 other ZIP code shares the station; its figures are presented in full for 54971 (Ripon). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 53919 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