Frost Dates for 54130 — Kaukauna, Wisconsin

Half of springs at Appleton, WI see their last 32°F night by May 4; only one in ten is past it by April 21, and one in ten still has one after May 20. Planting tender crops after May 10 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 14 20%, and after May 20 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 6 in half of years, as early as September 23 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 18; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 8, 12 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 176 days one year in ten and falls short of 134 one year in ten. On average 157 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 15, and return around September 28. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 20 and March 26.

July is the warmest month at Appleton, WI, averaging 82°F by day and 61°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 62% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 2,525 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 62% of the 182 Wisconsin stations. 32% of them (804) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 663. Precipitation totals 33.2 inches a year, most in June (4.7") and least in February (1.1"); May to September bring 57% of it.

The nearest other station, Brillion, WI, 13 miles southeast of Kaukauna, has a last frost 2 days later (May 6), the same first-frost date, a season 3 days shorter.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Kaukauna usually arrives around November 17, and the last of the season around April 15. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Appleton, WI, 8.9 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 19 days after the last snow.

ZIP 54130 is 9 miles from Appleton, WI, which stands at 792 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 11 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 54956 (Neenah). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 54130 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.