Frost dates 2026–2027

Frost dates for Hartford, Wisconsin

Median (50% chance) dates of the last and first 32°F frost, from NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at Hartford Wastewater Plant, 1.8 mi away (close match).

Last spring frostMay 8
First fall frostOct 3
148 frost-free days
Last spring frostMay 81 year in 10 after May 24
First fall frostOct 31 year in 10 by Sep 20
Growing season148 daysbetween median 32°F dates
Hardiness zoneZone 5a−20 to −15°F average extreme low

Checking current alerts… View NWS forecast and alerts.

Will it freeze in Hartford in the next 7 nights?

The earliest overnight low at or below 32°F in the available NWS frost forecast is Fri, Nov 6: 27°F (Fri, Nov 6, 6:00 PM CST to Sat, Nov 7, 6:00 AM CST).

Tonight: forecast low 35°F. Frost possible.

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

6 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 Hartford

The median first fall hard-freeze date (28°F) is October 15, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at Hartford 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 May 5 · May 20 · Jun 2 Sep 12 · Sep 25 · Oct 6 128 days
32°F freeze Apr 24 · May 8 · May 24 Sep 20 · Oct 3 · Oct 16 148 days
28°F hard freeze Apr 11 · Apr 27 · May 12 Sep 30 · Oct 15 · Oct 30 171 days
NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00473453. How to read these probabilities.

Average high temperature by month

1991–2020 normals at Hartford 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 Hartford, WI come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: Hartford Wastewater Plant (station USC00473453, elevation 961 ft), 1.8 mi from Hartford. 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 Hartford

CityDistanceLast spring frostFirst fall frost
Slinger, WI 5.0 mi May 5 Oct 5
Richfield, WI 9.3 mi Apr 30 Oct 16
Jackson, WI 11 mi Apr 30 Oct 15
West Bend, WI 12 mi May 1 Oct 12
Lisbon, WI 13 mi Apr 30 Oct 16
Germantown, WI 14 mi May 6 Oct 8
Mayville, WI 15 mi May 1 Oct 10
Sussex, WI 15 mi Apr 30 Oct 16
Hartland, WI 16 mi May 1 Oct 13
Oconomowoc, WI 16 mi Apr 30 Oct 12

Frequently asked questions

When is the last frost in Hartford?

On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in Hartford is around May 8. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after May 24, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after April 24.

When is the first frost in Hartford?

The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around October 3. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by September 20 and a 90% chance by October 16.

Can it frost in Hartford 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 20.

What growing zone is Hartford?

Hartford 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 53027. See growing zones in Wisconsin.

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