Frost dates / Wisconsin / La Crosse

Frost dates in La Crosse, WI

The station on this page is LA CROSSE WFO, WI US (USC00474373), 1.7 miles from the city point. Population in the Census 2024 estimate is 51,049.

Zone 5aUSDA average annual extreme minimum -20°F to -15°F, from ZIP 54603 (2.7 miles from the city point used on this page).

Median last 32°F is April 27. Median first 32°F is October 13. The 50% growing-season length is 167 days. The green band runs from the median last frost to the median first frost. Thin ticks mark the 10%, 50%, and 90% dates.

Outside the median season Growing seasonTicks: 10%, 50%, and 90%

Last 32°F in spring

NCEI’s probability is the chance the last spring minimum of 32°F or lower occurs on or after the date.

Probability	Date	How to read it
90%	April 12	Earlier date. A last 32°F on or after this day is common.
50%	April 27	Median.
10%	May 12	Later date. A last 32°F on or after this day is uncommon.

First 32°F in fall

NCEI’s probability is the chance the first autumn minimum of 32°F or lower occurs on or before the date.

Probability	Date	How to read it
10%	September 28	Earlier date. A first 32°F on or before this day is uncommon.
50%	October 13	Median.
90%	October 29	Later date. A first 32°F on or before this day is common.

32°F growing-season length

Days between the last spring 32°F and the first autumn 32°F. The figure is a length the season meets or exceeds at that probability, from NCEI, not a subtraction done on this site.

Probability the season is at least this long	Days
10%	187
50%	167
90%	146

28°F threshold

	10%	50%	90%
Last, on or after	May 1	April 16	April 3
First, on or before	October 10	October 25	November 9
Season at least	210 days	189 days	168 days

36°F threshold

	10%	50%	90%
Last, on or after	May 22	May 7	April 24
First, on or before	September 20	October 1	October 16
Season at least	166 days	147 days	128 days

Station LA CROSSE WFO, WI US (USC00474373). Completeness flag R, 21 years used for the 32°F dates. NCEI’s annual probability of at least one day at or below 32°F is 100%. Freeze dates are conditional on that threshold occurring. Elevation 398.4 m. The same probability language applies to the 28°F and 36°F rows when those dates passed the same quality checks.

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La Crosse, WI

Zone 5aAverage annual extreme minimum -20°F to -15°F

Outside the median season Growing seasonTicks: 10%, 50%, and 90%

Wisconsin. Nearest qualified station: LA CROSSE WFO, WI US (USC00474373), 1.7 miles. Median last 32°F April 27. Median first 32°F October 13. The 50% growing-season length is 167 days.

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32°F probabilities at this station

	10%	50%	90%
Last 32°F on or after	May 12	April 27	April 12
First 32°F on or before	September 28	October 13	October 29

Column order matches the NCEI file: for the last freeze, 10% is the later date and 90% is the earlier date. How to read the probabilities.

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Planting calendar

Frost dates for Wisconsin are above. Planting windows appear for states with a cited extension guide. The fall and seed tools use the numbers you enter and the station dates.

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