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Will it freeze in Sparta in the next 7 nights?
The earliest overnight low at or below 32°F in the available NWS frost forecast is Tonight: 30°F (Thu, Nov 5, 6:00 PM CST to Fri, Nov 6, 6:00 AM CST).
Tonight: forecast low 30°F. Freeze.
NWS forecast period: Thu, Nov 5, 6:00 PM CST to Fri, Nov 6, 6:00 AM CST.
7 of the next 7 nights are forecast at 36°F or colder, cold enough for frost on exposed plants.
- Tonight 30°F Freeze · Mostly Cloudy
- Fri, Nov 6 23°F Hard freeze · Mostly Clear
- Sat, Nov 7 31°F Freeze · Partly Cloudy
- Sun, Nov 8 32°F Freeze · Mostly Clear
- Mon, Nov 9 36°F Frost possible · Mostly Clear
- Tue, Nov 10 34°F Frost possible · Partly Cloudy
- Wed, Nov 11 34°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 Sparta
The median first fall hard-freeze date (28°F) is October 11, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at Sparta. 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 6 · May 19 · May 31 | Sep 10 · Sep 23 · Oct 5 | 125 days |
| 32°F freeze | Apr 26 · May 9 · May 22 | Sep 18 · Oct 1 · Oct 13 | 144 days |
| 28°F hard freeze | Apr 15 · Apr 29 · May 13 | Sep 27 · Oct 11 · Oct 24 | 163 days |
Average high temperature by month
1991–2020 normals at Sparta
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 Sparta, WI come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: Sparta (station USC00477997, elevation 782 ft), 0.2 mi from Sparta. 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 Sparta
| City | Distance | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Salem, WI | 14 mi | Apr 27 | Oct 13 |
| Tomah, WI | 16 mi | May 6 | Oct 3 |
| Onalaska, WI | 20 mi | Apr 23 | Oct 17 |
| La Crosse, WI | 22 mi | Apr 27 | Oct 13 |
| Holmen, WI | 22 mi | Apr 23 | Oct 17 |
| La Crescent, MN | 25 mi | Apr 15 | Oct 28 |
| Winona, MN | 43 mi | Apr 21 | Oct 19 |
| Richland Center, WI | 47 mi | May 5 | Oct 6 |
| Reedsburg, WI | 50 mi | May 2 | Oct 7 |
| Wisconsin Rapids, WI | 58 mi | May 9 | Sep 30 |
Frequently asked questions
When is the last frost in Sparta?
On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in Sparta is around May 9. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after May 22, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after April 26.
When is the first frost in Sparta?
The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around October 1. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by September 18 and a 90% chance by October 13.
Can it frost in Sparta 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 19.
What growing zone is Sparta?
Sparta is in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 4b (average annual extreme minimum temperature −25 to −20°F), based on the 2023 USDA map for ZIP code 54656. See growing zones in Wisconsin.
More: all Wisconsin frost dates · Wisconsin growing zones · frost vs. freeze