Frost dates for Eau Claire 3sw, WI
At Eau Claire 3sw, the median last spring frost (32°F) is Apr 24 and the median first fall frost is Oct 14, for a typical growing season of 170 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until May 7. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zone 4b.
- Apr 24Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- May 7Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Oct 14First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 170 daysGrowing season (median)between 32°F freezes
Last spring frost dates
The chance that the temperature drops to the threshold after each date.
| Temperature | 90% chance later | 50% chance later | 10% chance later |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Apr 20 | May 5 | May 17 |
| 32°F | Apr 9 | Apr 24 | May 7 |
| 28°F | Apr 1 | Apr 14 | Apr 30 |
| 24°F | Mar 22 | Apr 5 | Apr 20 |
First fall frost dates
The chance that the temperature has dropped to the threshold by each date.
| Temperature | 10% chance by | 50% chance by | 90% chance by |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Sep 19 | Oct 3 | Oct 17 |
| 32°F | Sep 26 | Oct 14 | Oct 28 |
| 28°F | Oct 10 | Oct 26 | Nov 7 |
| 24°F | Oct 22 | Nov 3 | Nov 17 |
Growing season length
Days between the last spring and first fall freeze, as the length reached in 9, 5 and 1 out of 10 years.
| Temperature | 9 in 10 years at least | 5 in 10 years at least | 1 in 10 years at least |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | 130 days | 150 days | 167 days |
| 32°F | 149 days | 170 days | 192 days |
| 28°F | 171 days | 192 days | 212 days |
| 24°F | 189 days | 210 days | 229 days |
Chance of a freeze in any year
| Temperature | Chance per year |
|---|---|
| 36°F | 100% |
| 32°F | 100% |
| 28°F | 100% |
| 24°F | 100% |
ZIP codes whose closest station is this one
| ZIP | Hardiness zone | Avg. extreme low | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 54701 | 4b | -25 to -20°F | 4 km |
| 54720 | 4b | -25 to -20°F | 7 km |
| 54739 | 4b | -25 to -20°F | 17 km |
Not the official USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Zones shown here are the values published in the USDA-ARS / Oregon State University PRISM Group 2023 ZIP code tables, shown unaltered. For the official interactive map, visit planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.
About this station
- NOAA station ID USC00472425, at 44.7878, -91.5164, elevation 268 m (880 ft).
- Data quality: Representative (10+ years), 10 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 148.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Eau Claire Regional Airport (9 km)
- Mondovi (28 km)
- Augusta Ranger Station (32 km)
- Bloomer (34 km)
- Menomonie (34 km)
- Jim Falls 3nw (36 km)
- Durand (41 km)
- Stanley Wastewater Plant (50 km)
Sources
- NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, annual/seasonal normals by station (version 1.0.1), file dated June 27, 2023; documentation.
- USDA Agricultural Research Service and PRISM Group, Oregon State University, 2023 Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP code tables (CONUS, Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico), files dated November 17, 2023. Data © PRISM Group, Oregon State University, https://prism.oregonstate.edu, accessed November 1, 2026. Official map: planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Gazetteer ZIP Code Tabulation Areas file, dated August 30, 2024 (ZIP centroids used to find the nearest station).
Freeze dates are 30-year probabilities, not forecasts. Check your local forecast before planting tender plants.