Checking current alerts… View NWS forecast and alerts.
Will it freeze in Ripon in the next 7 nights?
The earliest overnight low at or below 32°F in the available NWS frost forecast is Fri, Nov 6: 25°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.
6 of the next 7 nights are forecast at 36°F or colder, cold enough for frost on exposed plants.
- Tonight 33°F Frost possible · Mostly Cloudy
- Fri, Nov 6 25°F Hard freeze · Mostly Clear
- Sat, Nov 7 31°F Freeze · Partly Cloudy
- Sun, Nov 8 32°F Freeze · Mostly Clear
- Mon, Nov 9 38°F Above 36°F · Mostly Clear
- Tue, Nov 10 35°F Frost possible · Partly Cloudy
- Wed, Nov 11 35°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 Ripon
The median first fall hard-freeze date (28°F) is October 24, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at Ripon 5 NE. 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 | Apr 29 · May 11 · May 24 | Sep 19 · Oct 1 · Oct 13 | 142 days |
| 32°F freeze | Apr 16 · May 1 · May 14 | Sep 26 · Oct 11 · Oct 26 | 163 days |
| 28°F hard freeze | Apr 5 · Apr 19 · May 5 | Oct 8 · Oct 24 · Nov 6 | 187 days |
Average high temperature by month
1991–2020 normals at Ripon 5 NE
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 Ripon, WI come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: Ripon 5 NE (station USC00477209, elevation 930 ft), 5.5 mi from Ripon. 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 Ripon
| City | Distance | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Berlin, WI | 11 mi | May 1 | Oct 8 |
| Waupun, WI | 16 mi | May 1 | Oct 11 |
| North Fond du Lac, WI | 18 mi | May 1 | Oct 12 |
| Oshkosh, WI | 19 mi | Apr 24 | Oct 20 |
| Fond du Lac, WI | 21 mi | Apr 27 | Oct 19 |
| Beaver Dam, WI | 25 mi | May 2 | Oct 9 |
| Mayville, WI | 28 mi | May 1 | Oct 10 |
| Neenah, WI | 29 mi | May 4 | Oct 6 |
| Fox Crossing, WI | 32 mi | May 4 | Oct 6 |
| Menasha, WI | 33 mi | May 4 | Oct 6 |
Frequently asked questions
When is the last frost in Ripon?
On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in Ripon is around May 1. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after May 14, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after April 16.
When is the first frost in Ripon?
The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around October 11. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by September 26 and a 90% chance by October 26.
Can it frost in Ripon 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 11.
What growing zone is Ripon?
Ripon 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 54971. See growing zones in Wisconsin.
More: all Wisconsin frost dates · Wisconsin growing zones · frost vs. freeze