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Will it freeze in Waunakee in the next 7 nights?
The earliest overnight low at or below 32°F in the available NWS frost forecast is Fri, Nov 6: 26°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.
5 of the next 7 nights are forecast at 36°F or colder, cold enough for frost on exposed plants.
- Tonight 34°F Frost possible · Mostly Cloudy
- Fri, Nov 6 26°F Hard freeze · Mostly Clear
- Sat, Nov 7 32°F Freeze · Mostly Clear
- Sun, Nov 8 33°F Frost possible · Clear
- Mon, Nov 9 39°F Above 36°F · Mostly Clear
- Tue, Nov 10 36°F Frost possible · Partly Cloudy
- Wed, Nov 11 37°F Above 36°F · 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 Waunakee
The median first fall hard-freeze date (28°F) is October 22, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at Madison Dane Regional Airport. 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 13 · May 29 | Sep 17 · Sep 29 · Oct 12 | 139 days |
| 32°F freeze | Apr 16 · May 1 · May 16 | Sep 26 · Oct 10 · Oct 24 | 160 days |
| 28°F hard freeze | Apr 5 · Apr 20 · May 5 | Oct 6 · Oct 22 · Nov 4 | 182 days |
Average high temperature by month
1991–2020 normals at Madison Dane Regional Airport
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 Waunakee, WI come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: Madison Dane Regional Airport (station USW00014837, elevation 866 ft), 5.8 mi from Waunakee. 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 Waunakee
| City | Distance | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| DeForest, WI | 6.2 mi | May 4 | Oct 6 |
| Middleton, WI | 6.2 mi | Apr 28 | Oct 15 |
| Madison, WI | 6.8 mi | May 1 | Oct 9 |
| Windsor, WI | 9.3 mi | May 4 | Oct 6 |
| Sun Prairie, WI | 11 mi | May 1 | Oct 10 |
| Monona, WI | 11 mi | May 1 | Oct 9 |
| Cottage Grove, WI | 14 mi | May 1 | Oct 10 |
| Fitchburg, WI | 14 mi | May 1 | Oct 9 |
| McFarland, WI | 14 mi | May 1 | Oct 9 |
| Verona, WI | 14 mi | Apr 28 | Oct 15 |
Frequently asked questions
When is the last frost in Waunakee?
On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in Waunakee is around May 1. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after May 16, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after April 16.
When is the first frost in Waunakee?
The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around October 10. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by September 26 and a 90% chance by October 24.
Can it frost in Waunakee 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 13.
What growing zone is Waunakee?
Waunakee 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 53597. See growing zones in Wisconsin.
More: all Wisconsin frost dates · Wisconsin growing zones · frost vs. freeze