Frost dates 2026–2027

Frost dates for Waupaca, Wisconsin

Median (50% chance) dates of the last and first 32°F frost, from NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at Waupaca, 0.6 mi away (close match).

Last spring frostMay 8
First fall frostOct 6
151 frost-free days
Last spring frostMay 81 year in 10 after May 21
First fall frostOct 61 year in 10 by Sep 23
Growing season151 daysbetween median 32°F dates
Hardiness zoneZone 5a−20 to −15°F average extreme low

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Will it freeze in Waupaca in the next 7 nights?

The earliest overnight low at or below 32°F in the available NWS frost forecast is Fri, Nov 6: 24°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.

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 Waupaca

The median first fall hard-freeze date (28°F) is October 17, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals at Waupaca. 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 May 4 · May 19 · May 31 Sep 14 · Sep 27 · Oct 8 131 days
32°F freeze Apr 24 · May 8 · May 21 Sep 23 · Oct 6 · Oct 18 151 days
28°F hard freeze Apr 12 · Apr 28 · May 11 Oct 1 · Oct 17 · Oct 30 172 days
NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00478951. How to read these probabilities.

Average high temperature by month

1991–2020 normals at Waupaca

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 Waupaca, WI come from the nearest weather station with freeze statistics in NOAA’s 1991–2020 Climate Normals: Waupaca (station USC00478951, elevation 837 ft), 0.6 mi from Waupaca. 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 Waupaca

CityDistanceLast spring frostFirst fall frost
New London, WI 17 mi May 4 Oct 6
Plover, WI 24 mi May 4 Oct 7
Greenville, WI 26 mi May 4 Oct 6
Stevens Point, WI 27 mi May 4 Oct 7
Berlin, WI 27 mi May 1 Oct 8
Fox Crossing, WI 30 mi May 4 Oct 6
Neenah, WI 32 mi May 4 Oct 6
Menasha, WI 33 mi May 4 Oct 6
Oshkosh, WI 34 mi Apr 24 Oct 20
Appleton, WI 34 mi May 4 Oct 6

Frequently asked questions

When is the last frost in Waupaca?

On average, the last spring frost (32°F) in Waupaca is around May 8. In about 1 year in 10 it comes after May 21, and in 9 years in 10 it comes after April 24.

When is the first frost in Waupaca?

The first fall frost (32°F) usually arrives around October 6. There’s a 10% chance of a freeze by September 23 and a 90% chance by October 18.

Can it frost in Waupaca 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 Waupaca?

Waupaca 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 54981. See growing zones in Wisconsin.

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