Frost Dates for 54812 — Barron, Wisconsin

Half of springs at Rice Lake, WI see their last 32°F night by May 8; only one in ten is past it by April 25, and one in ten still has one after May 23. Planting tender crops after May 14 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 18 20%, and after May 23 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 2 in half of years, as early as September 19 one year in ten, and holds off past October 14 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 9 days later, around October 11; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 11, 12 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 145 days in a typical year, shorter than at 75% of the 182 Wisconsin stations; it reaches 163 days one year in ten and falls short of 124 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 11 days longer, to about May 19, and return around September 24. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 13 and March 31.

July is the warmest month at Rice Lake, WI, averaging 81°F by day and 59°F at night; January is the coldest at 22°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 76% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 2,315 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 64% of the 182 Wisconsin stations. 33% of them (763) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 623. Precipitation totals 31.5 inches a year, most in June (4.2") and least in February (0.8"); May to September bring 62% of it.

The nearest other station, Cumberland, WI, 12 miles northwest of Barron, has a last frost 3 days earlier (May 5), a first frost 2 days later (October 4), a season 7 days longer.

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Barron usually arrives around November 13, and the last of the season around April 12. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at Rice Lake, WI, 4.6 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 26 days after the last snow.

ZIP 54812 is 5 miles from Rice Lake, WI, which stands at 1,103 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 3 other ZIP codes share the station; its figures are presented in full for 54868 (Rice Lake). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 54812 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.