Frost dates 2026–2027

Frost dates for Dodgeville, Wisconsin

Median (50% chance) dates of the last and first 32°F frost, from NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at Dodgeville Wastewater Plant, 0.8 mi away (close match).

Last spring frostMay 3
First fall frostOct 7
157 frost-free days
Last spring frostMay 31 year in 10 after May 17
First fall frostOct 71 year in 10 by Sep 25
Growing season157 daysbetween median 32°F dates
Hardiness zoneZone 5a−20 to −15°F average extreme low

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Will it freeze in Dodgeville in the next 7 nights?

The earliest overnight low at or below 32°F in the available NWS frost forecast is Fri, Nov 6: 26°F (Fri, Nov 6, 6:00 PM CST to Sat, Nov 7, 6:00 AM CST).

Tonight: forecast low 33°F. Frost possible.

NWS forecast period: Thu, Nov 5, 6:00 PM CST to Fri, Nov 6, 6:00 AM CST.

4 of the next 7 nights are forecast at 36°F or colder, cold enough for frost on exposed plants.

Overnight lows from the National Weather Service forecast for this location. This covers the available forecast window, not the first freeze of the whole season. Frost can form above 32°F on clear, calm nights.

Frost and freeze probabilities

Freeze dates shift from year to year. Spring percentages describe the chance of a freeze after the stated date; fall percentages describe the chance of a freeze by that date. The 10% spring date is the cautious one: a later freeze happens about 1 year in 10.

These dates describe historical probabilities, not this year’s forecast or the earliest and latest possible freezes. Different weather stations or probability thresholds can produce different published dates for the same city.

Average first hard freeze in Dodgeville

The median first fall hard-freeze date (28°F) is October 18, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at Dodgeville Wastewater Plant. This is the 50% probability date, not a forecast for this year.

TemperatureLast spring date
90% · 50% · 10% chance of a later freeze
First fall date
10% · 50% · 90% chance of an earlier freeze
Season
36°F frost possible Apr 30 · May 13 · May 30 Sep 18 · Sep 29 · Oct 11 138 days
32°F freeze Apr 19 · May 3 · May 17 Sep 25 · Oct 7 · Oct 20 157 days
28°F hard freeze Apr 8 · Apr 22 · May 6 Oct 3 · Oct 18 · Oct 30 178 days
NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00472173. How to read these probabilities.

Average high temperature by month

1991–2020 normals at Dodgeville Wastewater Plant

Average low temperature by month

Months with lows near or below freezing carry frost risk

Where these frost dates come from

The frost dates for Dodgeville, WI come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: Dodgeville Wastewater Plant (station USC00472173, elevation 1,118 ft), 0.8 mi from Dodgeville. Local conditions (valleys, hilltops, distance to water, city heat) can shift frost dates by days or weeks. The hardiness zone is from the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (USDA ARS and Oregon State University PRISM). See our methodology.

Frost dates near Dodgeville

CityDistanceLast spring frostFirst fall frost
Mount Horeb, WI 21 mi May 7 Oct 1
Platteville, WI 24 mi Apr 30 Oct 13
Richland Center, WI 29 mi May 5 Oct 6
Verona, WI 30 mi Apr 28 Oct 15
Middleton, WI 33 mi Apr 28 Oct 15
Monroe, WI 35 mi Apr 27 Oct 14
Fitchburg, WI 35 mi May 1 Oct 9
Madison, WI 36 mi May 1 Oct 9
Oregon, WI 37 mi May 1 Oct 9
Waunakee, WI 38 mi May 1 Oct 10

Frequently asked questions

When is the last frost in Dodgeville?

On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in Dodgeville is around May 3. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after May 17, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after April 19.

When is the first frost in Dodgeville?

The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around October 7. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by September 25 and a 90% chance by October 20.

Can it frost in Dodgeville after the last frost date?

Yes. Frost can form on clear, calm nights even when the air stays above 32°F. Temperatures of 36°F or lower, cold enough for frost on exposed plants, have a 50% chance of occurring after May 13.

What growing zone is Dodgeville?

Dodgeville is in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 5a (average annual extreme minimum temperature −20 to −15°F), based on the 2023 USDA map for ZIP code 53533. See growing zones in Wisconsin.

More: all Wisconsin frost dates · Wisconsin growing zones · frost vs. freeze