Frost Dates for 54669 — West Salem, Wisconsin

Half of springs at La Crosse WFO, WI see their last 32°F night by April 27; only one in ten is past it by April 12, and one in ten still has one after May 12. Planting tender crops after May 2 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 6 20%, and after May 12 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 13 in half of years, as early as September 28 one year in ten, and holds off past October 29 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 12 days later, around October 25; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 1, 11 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 167 days in a typical year, longer than at 79% of the 182 Wisconsin stations; it reaches 187 days one year in ten and falls short of 146 one year in ten. On average 148 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 7, and return around October 1. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 21 and March 21.

July is the warmest month at La Crosse WFO, WI, averaging 80°F by day and 62°F at night; January is the coldest at 24°F and 8°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 34% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 2,561 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 66% of the 182 Wisconsin stations. 33% of them (857) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 640. Precipitation totals 37.4 inches a year, most in June (5.3") and least in January (1.1"); May to September bring 61% of it.

The nearest other station, La Crosse Municipal Airport, WI, 8 miles west of West Salem and 655 feet lower, has a last frost 4 days earlier (April 23), a first frost 4 days later (October 17), a season 10 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in West Salem usually arrives around November 8, and the last of the season around April 14. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at La Crosse WFO, WI, 7.6 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 13 days after the last snow.

ZIP 54669 is 8 miles from La Crosse WFO, WI, which stands at 1,307 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 54601 (La Crosse). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 54669 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.