Frost dates for Appleton, WI
At Appleton, the median last spring frost (32°F) is May 4 and the median first fall frost is Oct 6, for a typical growing season of 154 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until May 20. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zones 5a to 5b.
- May 4Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- May 20Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Oct 6First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 154 daysGrowing season (median)between 32°F freezes
Last spring frost dates
The chance that the temperature drops to the threshold after each date.
| Temperature | 90% chance later | 50% chance later | 10% chance later |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Apr 30 | May 15 | May 29 |
| 32°F | Apr 21 | May 4 | May 20 |
| 28°F | Apr 9 | Apr 23 | May 8 |
| 24°F | Mar 31 | Apr 12 | Apr 26 |
First fall frost dates
The chance that the temperature has dropped to the threshold by each date.
| Temperature | 10% chance by | 50% chance by | 90% chance by |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Sep 15 | Sep 28 | Oct 11 |
| 32°F | Sep 23 | Oct 6 | Oct 21 |
| 28°F | Oct 1 | Oct 18 | Nov 3 |
| 24°F | Oct 14 | Nov 1 | Nov 16 |
Growing season length
Days between the last spring and first fall freeze, as the length reached in 9, 5 and 1 out of 10 years.
| Temperature | 9 in 10 years at least | 5 in 10 years at least | 1 in 10 years at least |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | 116 days | 134 days | 154 days |
| 32°F | 134 days | 154 days | 176 days |
| 28°F | 156 days | 177 days | 198 days |
| 24°F | 183 days | 203 days | 221 days |
Chance of a freeze in any year
| Temperature | Chance per year |
|---|---|
| 36°F | 100% |
| 32°F | 100% |
| 28°F | 100% |
| 24°F | 100% |
ZIP codes whose closest station is this one
| ZIP | Hardiness zone | Avg. extreme low | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 54911 | 5b | -15 to -10°F | 5 km |
| 54914 | 5b | -15 to -10°F | 5 km |
| 54913 | 5b | -15 to -10°F | 7 km |
| 54915 | 5b | -15 to -10°F | 7 km |
| 54136 | 5b | -15 to -10°F | 8 km |
| 54942 | 5b | -15 to -10°F | 9 km |
| 54140 | 5b | -15 to -10°F | 10 km |
| 54113 | 5b | -15 to -10°F | 10 km |
| 54952 | 5b | -15 to -10°F | 11 km |
| 54956 | 5b | -15 to -10°F | 13 km |
| 54130 | 5b | -15 to -10°F | 16 km |
| 54106 | 5a | -20 to -15°F | 23 km |
Not the official USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Zones shown here are the values published in the USDA-ARS / Oregon State University PRISM Group 2023 ZIP code tables, shown unaltered. For the official interactive map, visit planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.
About this station
- NOAA station ID USC00470265, at 44.2769, -88.4378, elevation 241 m (792 ft).
- Data quality: Representative (10+ years), 25 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 157.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- New London (24 km)
- Oshkosh (30 km)
- Brillion (31 km)
- Oshkosh Wittman Airport (34 km)
- Chilton (36 km)
- Green Bay WFO (36 km)
- Green Bay (36 km)
- Green Bay Botanical (39 km)
Sources
- NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, annual/seasonal normals by station (version 1.0.1), file dated June 27, 2023; documentation.
- USDA Agricultural Research Service and PRISM Group, Oregon State University, 2023 Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP code tables (CONUS, Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico), files dated November 17, 2023. Data © PRISM Group, Oregon State University, https://prism.oregonstate.edu, accessed November 1, 2026. Official map: planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Gazetteer ZIP Code Tabulation Areas file, dated August 30, 2024 (ZIP centroids used to find the nearest station).
Freeze dates are 30-year probabilities, not forecasts. Check your local forecast before planting tender plants.