Frost Dates for 53948 — Mauston, Wisconsin

Half of springs at Mauston 1 SE, 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 15. Planting tender crops after May 7 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 10 20%, and after May 15 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 7 in half of years, as early as September 26 one year in ten, and holds off past October 21 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 12 days later, around October 19; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 5, 10 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 158 days in a typical year, longer than at 56% of the 182 Wisconsin stations; it reaches 175 days one year in ten and falls short of 138 one year in ten. On average 158 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 14, and return around September 28. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 19 and March 24.

July is the warmest month at Mauston 1 SE, WI, averaging 82°F by day and 60°F at night; January is the coldest at 26°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 54% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 2,522 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 60% of the 182 Wisconsin stations. 33% of them (841) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 648. Precipitation totals 36.3 inches a year, most in June (5.1") and least in January (1.3"); May to September bring 60% of it.

The nearest other station, Hillsboro, WI, 16 miles southwest of Mauston, has a last frost 3 days later (May 5), a first frost 3 days earlier (October 4), a season 5 days shorter.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Mauston usually arrives around November 23, and the last of the season around April 4. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Mauston 1 SE, WI, 0.5 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 28 days after the last snow.

ZIP 53948 is under a mile from Mauston 1 SE, WI, which stands at 865 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 53948 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.