Frost Dates for 54658 — Stoddard, Wisconsin

Half of springs at Genoa Dam 8, WI see their last 32°F night by April 22; only one in ten is past it by April 6, and one in ten still has one after May 5. Planting tender crops after April 28 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 1 20%, and after May 5 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 17 in half of years, as early as October 4 one year in ten, and holds off past October 31 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 11 days later, around October 28; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 24, 11 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 178 days in a typical year, longer than at 92% of the 182 Wisconsin stations; it reaches 199 days one year in ten and falls short of 159 one year in ten. On average 138 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 10 days longer, to about May 2, and return around October 7. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 23 and March 17.

July is the warmest month at Genoa Dam 8, WI, averaging 84°F by day and 64°F at night; January is the coldest at 27°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 September the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, May still brings one in 21% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 3,071 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 98% of the 182 Wisconsin stations. 34% of them (1,058) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 742. Precipitation totals 38.4 inches a year, most in June (5.9") and least in February (1.2"); May to September bring 62% of it.

The nearest other station, La Crosse WFO, WI, 9 miles north of Stoddard and 668 feet higher, has a last frost 5 days later (April 27), a first frost 4 days earlier (October 13), a season 11 days shorter.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Stoddard usually arrives around December 1, and the last of the season around March 18. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Genoa Dam 8, WI, 8.3 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 35 days after the last snow.

ZIP 54658 is 8 miles from Genoa Dam 8, WI, which stands at 639 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 54658 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.