Checking current alerts… View NWS forecast and alerts.
Will it freeze in Richland Center in the next 7 nights?
The earliest overnight low at or below 32°F in the available NWS frost forecast is Tonight: 32°F (Thu, Nov 5, 6:00 PM CST to Fri, Nov 6, 6:00 AM CST).
Tonight: forecast low 32°F. Freeze.
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.
- Tonight 32°F Freeze · Mostly Cloudy
- Fri, Nov 6 24°F Hard freeze · Mostly Clear
- Sat, Nov 7 31°F Freeze · Partly Cloudy
- Sun, Nov 8 32°F Freeze · Clear
- Mon, Nov 9 37°F Above 36°F · Mostly Clear
- Tue, Nov 10 35°F Frost possible · Partly Cloudy
- Wed, Nov 11 36°F Frost possible · Partly Cloudy
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 Richland Center
The median first fall hard-freeze date (28°F) is October 17, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at Richland Center. This is the 50% probability date, not a forecast for this year.
| Temperature | Last 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 1 · May 16 · May 29 | Sep 17 · Sep 29 · Oct 9 | 134 days |
| 32°F freeze | Apr 21 · May 5 · May 19 | Sep 24 · Oct 6 · Oct 18 | 154 days |
| 28°F hard freeze | Apr 10 · Apr 25 · May 9 | Oct 2 · Oct 17 · Oct 29 | 174 days |
Average high temperature by month
1991–2020 normals at Richland Center
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 Richland Center, WI come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: Richland Center (station USC00477158, elevation 728 ft), 0.6 mi from Richland Center. 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 Richland Center
| City | Distance | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reedsburg, WI | 24 mi | May 2 | Oct 7 |
| Dodgeville, WI | 29 mi | May 3 | Oct 7 |
| Baraboo, WI | 34 mi | May 5 | Oct 5 |
| Mount Horeb, WI | 40 mi | May 7 | Oct 1 |
| Platteville, WI | 42 mi | Apr 30 | Oct 13 |
| Prairie du Chien, WI | 43 mi | Apr 28 | Oct 12 |
| Tomah, WI | 45 mi | May 6 | Oct 3 |
| Sparta, WI | 47 mi | May 9 | Oct 1 |
| Middleton, WI | 47 mi | Apr 28 | Oct 15 |
| Portage, WI | 48 mi | Apr 28 | Oct 10 |
Frequently asked questions
When is the last frost in Richland Center?
On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in Richland Center is around May 5. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after May 19, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after April 21.
When is the first frost in Richland Center?
The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around October 6. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by September 24 and a 90% chance by October 18.
Can it frost in Richland Center 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 16.
What growing zone is Richland Center?
Richland Center 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 53581. See growing zones in Wisconsin.
More: all Wisconsin frost dates · Wisconsin growing zones · frost vs. freeze