Frost dates 2026–2027

Frost dates for Stoughton, Wisconsin

Median (50% chance) dates of the last and first 32°F frost, from NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at Stoughton, 1.0 mi away (close match).

Last spring frostApr 30
First fall frostOct 11
163 frost-free days
Last spring frostApr 301 year in 10 after May 15
First fall frostOct 111 year in 10 by Sep 28
Growing season163 daysbetween median 32°F dates
Hardiness zoneZone 5b−15 to −10°F average extreme low

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Will it freeze in Stoughton 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 34°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 Stoughton

The median first fall hard-freeze date (28°F) is October 22, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at Stoughton. 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 26 · May 10 · May 25 Sep 18 · Oct 1 · Oct 13 141 days
32°F freeze Apr 16 · Apr 30 · May 15 Sep 28 · Oct 11 · Oct 24 163 days
28°F hard freeze Apr 5 · Apr 19 · May 3 Oct 5 · Oct 22 · Nov 3 185 days
NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00478229. How to read these probabilities.

Average high temperature by month

1991–2020 normals at Stoughton

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 Stoughton, WI come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: Stoughton (station USC00478229, elevation 840 ft), 1.0 mi from Stoughton. 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 Stoughton

CityDistanceLast spring frostFirst fall frost
McFarland, WI 7.5 mi May 1 Oct 9
Oregon, WI 8.7 mi May 1 Oct 9
Edgerton, WI 9.9 mi Apr 30 Oct 11
Monona, WI 11 mi May 1 Oct 9
Evansville, WI 11 mi Apr 30 Oct 11
Fitchburg, WI 11 mi May 1 Oct 9
Cottage Grove, WI 12 mi May 1 Oct 10
Madison, WI 16 mi May 1 Oct 9
Verona, WI 17 mi Apr 28 Oct 15
Milton, WI 17 mi Apr 28 Oct 13

Frequently asked questions

When is the last frost in Stoughton?

On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in Stoughton is around April 30. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after May 15, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after April 16.

When is the first frost in Stoughton?

The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around October 11. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by September 28 and a 90% chance by October 24.

Can it frost in Stoughton 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 10.

What growing zone is Stoughton?

Stoughton is in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 5b (average annual extreme minimum temperature −15 to −10°F), based on the 2023 USDA map for ZIP code 53589. See growing zones in Wisconsin.

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