Skip to content

USDA Hardiness Zone 5b

Frost Dates for 54115 — De Pere, Wisconsin

NOAA 1991–2020 normals from Green Bay, WI (682 ft), 6 miles north.

Updated

In De Pere, the last spring frost (32°F) is around April 30 in half of years and has passed by May 16 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around October 9, as early as September 24 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 161 days (NOAA, Green Bay, WI).

Last spring frost
April 30

50% probability

First fall frost
October 9

50% probability

Growing season
161 days

freeze-free, 50%

Hardiness zone
5b

-15 to -10°F (-26.1 to -23.3°C) coldest night

First snow
November 12

median, 1991–2020

Last snow
April 13

median, 1991–2020

Winters with snow
100%

30 of 30 observed

Snow per year
55.6"

NOAA normal

Frost risk by date in De Pere

Half of springs at Green Bay, WI see their last 32°F night by April 30; only one in ten is past it by April 16, 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 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 24 one year in ten, and holds off past October 26 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 15 days later, around October 24; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 4, 12 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 181 days one year in ten and falls short of 141 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 13 days longer, to about May 13, and return around September 29. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 25 and March 20.

Spring: the chance of another night this cold after the date
Low90%80%70%60%50%40%30%20%10%
36°FApr 29May 2May 6May 9May 13May 16May 19May 23May 27
32°FApr 16Apr 22Apr 25Apr 29Apr 30May 4May 7May 11May 16
28°FApr 3Apr 7Apr 11Apr 15Apr 17Apr 21Apr 24Apr 29May 4
24°FMar 22Mar 28Apr 1Apr 3Apr 5Apr 8Apr 12Apr 16Apr 21
20°FMar 13Mar 18Mar 22Mar 26Mar 29Mar 31Apr 3Apr 6Apr 11
16°FMar 6Mar 10Mar 14Mar 17Mar 20Mar 24Mar 27Mar 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 16Sep 20Sep 24Sep 26Sep 29Oct 1Oct 4Oct 7Oct 12
32°FSep 24Sep 29Oct 3Oct 6Oct 9Oct 12Oct 16Oct 21Oct 26
28°FOct 6Oct 11Oct 16Oct 21Oct 24Oct 28Nov 1Nov 3Nov 9
24°FOct 21Oct 28Nov 1Nov 2Nov 6Nov 9Nov 12Nov 17Nov 22
20°FNov 1Nov 6Nov 10Nov 14Nov 17Nov 20Nov 23Nov 26Dec 1
16°FNov 10Nov 16Nov 19Nov 23Nov 25Nov 28Dec 1Dec 4Dec 10

Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at Green Bay, 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 54115 →Compare De Pere with another place →

Weather by month in De Pere

July is the warmest month at Green Bay, WI, averaging 81°F by day and 60°F at night; January is the coldest at 26°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 50% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 2,428 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 51% of the 182 Wisconsin stations. 32% of them (778) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 637. Precipitation totals 31.8 inches a year, most in June (4.1") and least in February (1.2"); May to September bring 56% of it.

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Green Bay, WI
MonthHigh °FLow °FPrecip. in32°F nightNights ≤ 32°FGDD 50°F
Jan26111.4100%300
Feb29131.2100%270
Mar40242.0100%259
Apr54353.099%1244
May67463.450%1234
Jun77564.10%0492
Jul81603.60%0637
Aug79583.40%0575
Sep72503.222%1337
Oct58402.794%891
Nov44292.0100%219
Dec31181.8100%280

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Green Bay, WI (682 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, Green Bay WFO, WI, 6 miles north of De Pere, has a last frost 1 day later (May 1), a first frost 2 days later (October 11), a season 1 day shorter.

Frost dates for 54165 (Seymour) →

When it snows in De Pere, Wisconsin

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in De Pere usually arrives around November 12, and the last of the season around April 13. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Green Bay, WI, 5.6 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 17 days after the last snow.

Planting calendar for 54115

What to do and when, from the 50% frost dates for De Pere, Wisconsin
WhenWhat to do
February 19 – March 5Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out.
March 5 – March 19Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early.
April 2 – April 16Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil.
April 30 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 54115 is 6 miles from Green Bay, WI, which stands at 682 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 2 other ZIP codes share the station. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 54115 in zone 5b, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged -15 to -10°F (-26.1 to -23.3°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 5b places in Wisconsin