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USDA Hardiness Zone 4b

Frost Dates for 54437 — Greenwood, Wisconsin

NOAA 1991–2020 normals from Owen 1E, WI (1,238 ft), 12 miles north.

Updated

In Greenwood, the last spring frost (32°F) is around May 13 in half of years and has passed by May 29 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around September 26, as early as September 12 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 136 days (NOAA, Owen 1E, WI).

Last spring frost
May 13

50% probability

First fall frost
September 26

50% probability

Growing season
136 days

freeze-free, 50%

Hardiness zone
4b

-25 to -20°F (-31.7 to -28.9°C) coldest night

First snow
November 7

median, 1991–2020

Last snow
April 14

median, 1991–2020

Winters with snow
100%

26 of 26 observed

Snow per year
51"

NOAA normal

Frost risk by date in Greenwood

Half of springs at Owen 1E, WI see their last 32°F night by May 13; only one in ten is past it by April 29, and one in ten still has one after May 29. Planting tender crops after May 19 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 23 20%, and after May 29 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 September 26 in half of years, as early as September 12 one year in ten, and holds off past October 10 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 9 days later, around October 5; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 17, 12 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 136 days in a typical year, shorter than at 89% of the 182 Wisconsin stations; it reaches 155 days one year in ten and falls short of 116 one year in ten. On average 173 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 25, and return around September 17. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 11 and April 3.

Spring: the chance of another night this cold after the date
Low90%80%70%60%50%40%30%20%10%
36°FMay 11May 15May 19May 22May 25May 28May 31Jun 3Jun 9
32°FApr 29May 3May 7May 10May 13May 16May 19May 23May 29
28°FApr 18Apr 23Apr 27Apr 30May 2May 5May 8May 12May 17
24°FApr 6Apr 11Apr 14Apr 17Apr 21Apr 24Apr 28May 1May 6
20°FMar 28Apr 1Apr 4Apr 7Apr 10Apr 13Apr 16Apr 19Apr 25
16°FMar 20Mar 25Mar 29Apr 1Apr 3Apr 5Apr 8Apr 12Apr 17
Fall: the chance the first night this cold has come by the date
Low10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%
36°FSep 2Sep 8Sep 11Sep 14Sep 17Sep 20Sep 23Sep 26Oct 1
32°FSep 12Sep 17Sep 21Sep 24Sep 26Sep 29Oct 1Oct 5Oct 10
28°FSep 22Sep 27Sep 30Oct 3Oct 5Oct 9Oct 12Oct 15Oct 21
24°FOct 1Oct 6Oct 10Oct 14Oct 18Oct 21Oct 25Oct 29Nov 2
20°FOct 12Oct 19Oct 25Oct 28Nov 1Nov 2Nov 5Nov 9Nov 16
16°FOct 29Nov 1Nov 4Nov 7Nov 11Nov 14Nov 17Nov 21Nov 26

Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at Owen 1E, 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 54437 →Compare Greenwood with another place →

Weather by month in Greenwood

July is the warmest month at Owen 1E, WI, averaging 79°F by day and 56°F at night; January is the coldest at 21°F and 2°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 86% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 2,010 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 86% of the 182 Wisconsin stations. 33% of them (658) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 547. Precipitation totals 34.4 inches a year, most in June (4.8") and least in January (1.1"); May to September bring 61% of it.

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Owen 1E, WI
MonthHigh °FLow °FPrecip. in32°F nightNights ≤ 32°FGDD 50°F
Jan2121.1100%310
Feb2641.2100%280
Mar38171.8100%267
Apr52313.0100%1634
May66434.086%3194
Jun75534.86%0424
Jul79563.80%0547
Aug77544.41%0487
Sep69464.065%2260
Oct55342.9100%1355
Nov40231.9100%254
Dec27101.5100%300

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Owen 1E, WI (1,238 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, Neillsville 3ESE, WI, 17 miles south of Greenwood and 158 feet lower, has a last frost 3 days earlier (May 10), a first frost 5 days later (October 1), a season 8 days longer.

Frost dates for 54456 (Neillsville) →

When it snows in Greenwood, Wisconsin

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Greenwood usually arrives around November 7, and the last of the season around April 14. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Owen 1E, WI, 12.4 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 54437

What to do and when, from the 50% frost dates for Greenwood, Wisconsin
WhenWhat to do
March 4 – March 18Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out.
March 18 – April 1Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early.
April 15 – April 29Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil.
May 13 onwardTransplant tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, cucumbersThe average last freeze has passed — still watch the actual forecast.
by July 4Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops.
by September 12Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation.
September 26 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 54437 is 12 miles from Owen 1E, WI, which stands at 1,238 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 5 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 54421 (Colby). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 54437 in zone 4b, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged -25 to -20°F (-31.7 to -28.9°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 4b places in Wisconsin