When is the last frost in Milwaukee, WI?

The average (50% probability) last spring frost in Milwaukee is April 19, based on NOAA 1991–2020 normals. A 1-in-10 risk remains until May 2.

When is the first frost in Milwaukee?

The average first fall frost in Milwaukee is October 29, with a growing season of about 192 days.

Home › States › Milwaukee

Milwaukee, Wisconsin frost dates

Average last spring frost: April 19. Average first fall frost: October 29. That gives a growing season of about 192 days. For frost-tender plants, a safer planting date is May 2, after which a freeze happens in only 1 year in 10.

Last frost (50%)

Apr 19

1-in-10 risk after May 2

First frost (50%)

Oct 29

1-in-10 risk before Oct 15

Growing season

192 days

median frost-free days

Hard freeze (28°F)

Apr 6

median last 28°F in spring

Frost risk by date

Chance of frost	Spring: frost after	Fall: frost before
90%	April 6	November 10
70%	April 13	November 2
50%	April 19	October 29
30%	April 25	October 24
10%	May 2	October 15

Read the spring column like this: there is a 10% chance of a 32°F freeze after May 2. These are NOAA probabilities for the Milwaukee Mitchell Airport weather station (USW00014839, elevation 204 m), 1991–2020.

Milwaukee vegetable planting calendar

Dates count from the 50% last-frost date (April 19). For tomatoes, peppers and other frost-tender crops, waiting until the 10% date (May 2) is the cautious choice.

Crop	Start seeds indoors	Plant out
Beans	Mar 29	Apr 26 (usually sown directly in the garden)
Broccoli	Feb 8	Mar 22
Brussels sprouts	Feb 8	Mar 22
Cabbage	Feb 1	Mar 15
Cauliflower	Feb 22	Apr 5
Sweet corn	Mar 22	Apr 19 (usually sown directly in the garden)
Cucumbers	Apr 5	Apr 26
Kale	Feb 1	Mar 15
Leeks	Jan 4	Mar 15
Lettuce	Mar 1	Apr 5
Melons	Apr 12	May 3
Onions	Dec 28	Mar 8 (from seed; sets and transplants go out at the same time)
Peas	Feb 22	Mar 22 (usually sown directly in the garden)
Peppers	Mar 8	May 3
Squash	Apr 12	May 3
Tomatoes	Feb 22	Apr 19

Offsets from Oregon State University Extension's seed-starting table. "Plant out" means transplant, or sow directly for crops usually grown from seed.

Fall frost and season extension

The first fall freeze usually arrives around October 29. There's a 1-in-10 chance it comes before October 15. Harvest tender crops such as basil, tomatoes, peppers and squash before then, or cover them on cold nights. Cool-season crops like kale, cabbage and Brussels sprouts handle light frost, and often taste sweeter after it. A hard freeze (28°F) typically comes around November 8.

Nearby cities

City	Last frost (50%)	First frost (50%)	Distance
Chicago, IL	Apr 16	Oct 28	~107 km
Madison, WI	May 1	Oct 10	~119 km
Green Bay, WI	Apr 30	Oct 9	~172 km
Grand Rapids, MI	Apr 29	Oct 20	~192 km
Lansing, MI	May 1	Oct 13	~271 km
Peoria, IL	Apr 16	Oct 23	~292 km

More: all Wisconsin frost dates