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USDA Hardiness Zone 5a

Frost Dates for 54667 — Westby, Wisconsin

NOAA 1991–2020 normals from Viroqua, WI (1,255 ft), 7 miles south.

Updated

In Westby, the last spring frost (32°F) is around May 7 in half of years and has passed by May 21 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around October 2, as early as September 18 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 148 days (NOAA, Viroqua, WI).

Last spring frost
May 7

50% probability

First fall frost
October 2

50% probability

Growing season
148 days

freeze-free, 50%

Hardiness zone
5a

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

First snow
November 11

median, 1991–2020

Last snow
April 12

median, 1991–2020

Winters with snow
100%

27 of 27 observed

Snow per year
43"

NOAA normal

Frost risk by date in Westby

Half of springs at Viroqua, WI see their last 32°F night by May 7; only one in ten is past it by April 23, and one in ten still has one after May 21. Planting tender crops after May 13 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 17 20%, and after May 21 10%. The 14 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 58% of the 182 Wisconsin stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 2 in half of years, as early as September 18 one year in ten, and holds off past October 17 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 11 days later, around October 13; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 11, 10 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 148 days in a typical year, shorter than at 69% of the 182 Wisconsin stations; it reaches 166 days one year in ten and falls short of 130 one year in ten. On average 165 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 9 days longer, to about May 16, and return around September 25. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 13 and March 29.

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

Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at Viroqua, 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 54667 →Compare Westby with another place →

Weather by month in Westby

July is the warmest month at Viroqua, WI, averaging 79°F by day and 59°F at night; January is the coldest at 23°F and 6°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 70% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 2,227 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 74% of the 182 Wisconsin stations. 33% of them (725) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 590. Precipitation totals 38.1 inches a year, most in June (5.7") and least in February (1.1"); May to September bring 62% of it.

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Viroqua, WI
MonthHigh °FLow °FPrecip. in32°F nightNights ≤ 32°FGDD 50°F
Jan2361.2100%310
Feb28101.1100%270
Mar40212.0100%2610
Apr54334.0100%1446
May66454.770%2209
Jun75555.70%0460
Jul79594.60%0590
Aug77574.60%0535
Sep70483.943%1294
Oct57362.799%1175
Nov41242.0100%247
Dec28131.6100%300

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Viroqua, WI (1,255 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, Cashton, WI, 7 miles northeast of Westby, has a last frost 10 days earlier (April 27), a first frost 12 days later (October 14), a season 22 days longer.

Frost dates for 54619 (Cashton) →

When it snows in Westby, Wisconsin

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Westby usually arrives around November 11, and the last of the season around April 12. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Westby 3ENE, WI, 2.7 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 25 days after the last snow.

Planting calendar for 54667

What to do and when, from the 50% frost dates for Westby, Wisconsin
WhenWhat to do
February 26 – March 12Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out.
March 12 – March 26Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early.
April 9 – April 23Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil.
May 7 onwardTransplant tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, cucumbersThe average last freeze has passed — still watch the actual forecast.
by July 10Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops.
by September 18Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation.
October 2 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 54667 is 7 miles from Viroqua, WI, which stands at 1,255 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 1 other ZIP code shares the station; its figures are presented in full for 54665 (Viroqua). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 54667 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