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USDA Hardiness Zone 5a

Frost Dates for 54170 — Shiocton, Wisconsin

NOAA 1991–2020 normals from Clintonville, WI (802 ft), 12 miles northwest.

Updated

In Shiocton, the last spring frost (32°F) is around May 4 in half of years and has passed by May 19 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around October 6, as early as September 21 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 154 days (NOAA, Clintonville, WI).

Last spring frost
May 4

50% probability

First fall frost
October 6

50% probability

Growing season
154 days

freeze-free, 50%

Hardiness zone
5a

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

First snow
November 24

median, 1991–2020

Last snow
April 12

median, 1991–2020

Winters with snow
100%

16 of 16 observed

Snow per year
57.5"

NOAA normal

Frost risk by date in Shiocton

Half of springs at Clintonville, WI see their last 32°F night by May 4; only one in ten is past it by April 22, and one in ten still has one after May 19. Planting tender crops after May 10 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 14 20%, and after May 19 10%. The 15 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 30% 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 21 one year in ten, and holds off past October 19 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 7, 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 173 days one year in ten and falls short of 134 one year in ten. On average 169 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 18 and March 27.

Spring: the chance of another night this cold after the date
Low90%80%70%60%50%40%30%20%10%
36°FMay 2May 7May 10May 13May 15May 19May 22May 25May 30
32°FApr 22Apr 26Apr 30May 2May 4May 7May 10May 14May 19
28°FApr 10Apr 15Apr 19Apr 22Apr 24Apr 27Apr 30May 3May 7
24°FMar 31Apr 4Apr 7Apr 9Apr 12Apr 15Apr 19Apr 22Apr 27
20°FMar 19Mar 26Mar 30Apr 1Apr 3Apr 5Apr 8Apr 12Apr 17
16°FMar 12Mar 16Mar 20Mar 23Mar 27Mar 30Apr 1Apr 4Apr 8
Fall: the chance the first night this cold has come by the date
Low10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%
36°FSep 14Sep 18Sep 22Sep 24Sep 28Sep 30Oct 2Oct 5Oct 9
32°FSep 21Sep 27Oct 1Oct 3Oct 6Oct 9Oct 11Oct 15Oct 19
28°FOct 1Oct 7Oct 11Oct 14Oct 18Oct 21Oct 24Oct 28Nov 1
24°FOct 14Oct 21Oct 25Oct 28Oct 31Nov 2Nov 5Nov 9Nov 14
20°FOct 27Nov 1Nov 4Nov 7Nov 10Nov 13Nov 16Nov 20Nov 25
16°FNov 4Nov 9Nov 13Nov 16Nov 18Nov 21Nov 24Nov 28Dec 2

Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at Clintonville, 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 54170 →Compare Shiocton with another place →

Weather by month in Shiocton

July is the warmest month at Clintonville, WI, averaging 81°F by day and 59°F at night; January is the coldest at 25°F and 7°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 64% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 2,328 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 63% of the 182 Wisconsin stations. 32% of them (751) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 628. Precipitation totals 33.0 inches a year, most in June (4.5") and least in February (1.1"); May to September bring 59% of it.

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Clintonville, WI
MonthHigh °FLow °FPrecip. in32°F nightNights ≤ 32°FGDD 50°F
Jan2571.3100%310
Feb2991.1100%280
Mar41201.9100%276
Apr55323.0100%1641
May68453.764%2225
Jun77554.50%0479
Jul81593.90%0628
Aug79573.70%0559
Sep72483.628%1312
Oct58362.998%1173
Nov43251.9100%245
Dec31151.5100%300

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Clintonville, WI (802 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, New London, WI, 13 miles southwest of Shiocton, has the same 50% last-frost date, the same first-frost date, a season 1 day shorter.

Frost dates for 54961 (New London) →

When it snows in Shiocton, Wisconsin

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Shiocton usually arrives around November 24, and the last of the season around April 12. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Shiocton, WI, 4.7 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 22 days after the last snow.

Planting calendar for 54170

What to do and when, from the 50% frost dates for Shiocton, Wisconsin
WhenWhat to do
February 23 – March 9Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out.
March 9 – March 23Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early.
April 6 – April 20Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil.
May 4 onwardTransplant tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, cucumbersThe average last freeze has passed — still watch the actual forecast.
by July 14Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops.
by September 22Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation.
October 6 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 54170 is 12 miles from Clintonville, WI, which stands at 802 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 2 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 54929 (Clintonville). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 54170 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