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USDA Hardiness Zone 5b

Frost Dates for 54947 — Larsen, Wisconsin

NOAA 1991–2020 normals from New London, WI (800 ft), 12 miles north.

Updated

In Larsen, the last spring frost (32°F) is around May 4 in half of years and has passed by May 19 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around October 6, as early as September 22 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 153 days (NOAA, New London, WI).

Last spring frost
May 4

50% probability

First fall frost
October 6

50% probability

Growing season
153 days

freeze-free, 50%

Hardiness zone
5b

-15 to -10°F (-26.1 to -23.3°C) coldest night

First snow
November 21

median, 1991–2020

Last snow
April 13

median, 1991–2020

Winters with snow
100%

28 of 28 observed

Snow per year
45.9"

NOAA normal

Frost risk by date in Larsen

Half of springs at New London, WI see their last 32°F night by May 4; only one in ten is past it by April 21, and one in ten still has one after May 19. Planting tender crops after May 10 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after May 14 20%, and after May 19 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 6 in half of years, as early as September 22 one year in ten, and holds off past October 22 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 12 days later, around October 18; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is May 9, 10 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 153 days in a typical year, shorter than at 57% of the 182 Wisconsin stations; it reaches 172 days one year in ten and falls short of 135 one year in ten. On average 164 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 13 days longer, to about May 17, and return around September 26. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes every winter, usually between November 19 and March 25.

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

Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at New London, 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 54947 →Compare Larsen with another place →

Weather by month in Larsen

July is the warmest month at New London, WI, averaging 81°F by day and 59°F at night; January is the coldest at 25°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 64% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 2,378 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), fewer than at 58% of the 182 Wisconsin stations. 32% of them (770) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 621. Precipitation totals 34.9 inches a year, most in June (4.8") and least in February (1.2"); May to September bring 58% of it.

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at New London, WI
MonthHigh °FLow °FPrecip. in32°F nightNights ≤ 32°FGDD 50°F
Jan2581.3100%300
Feb29111.2100%270
Mar41222.1100%2610
Apr54333.5100%1545
May68454.264%2235
Jun77554.80%0481
Jul81594.10%0621
Aug79583.70%0572
Sep72493.430%1324
Oct58382.997%1082
Nov43261.9100%228
Dec30151.8100%300

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at New London, WI (800 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, Oshkosh, WI, 13 miles southeast of Larsen, has a last frost 10 days earlier (April 24), a first frost 14 days later (October 20), a season 25 days longer.

Frost dates for 54901 (Oshkosh) →

When it snows in Larsen, Wisconsin

The first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more) in Larsen usually arrives around November 21, and the last of the season around April 13. Those are the middle dates across the winters of 1991–2020 at New London, WI, 11.7 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 21 days after the last snow.

Planting calendar for 54947

What to do and when, from the 50% frost dates for Larsen, Wisconsin
WhenWhat to do
February 23 – March 9Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out.
March 9 – March 23Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early.
April 6 – April 20Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil.
May 4 onwardTransplant tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, cucumbersThe average last freeze has passed — still watch the actual forecast.
by July 14Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops.
by September 22Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation.
October 6 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 54947 is 12 miles from New London, WI, which stands at 800 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 54961 (New London). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 54947 in zone 5b, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged -15 to -10°F (-26.1 to -23.3°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 5b places in Wisconsin