Data: 2023 USDA zones (PRISM/OSU) · NOAA 1991–2020 normals · updated

Planting zone for 54246 — Washington Island, WI

ZIP code 54246 (Washington Island, Door County) is in USDA zone 6a: the coldest winter night averages −10 to −5 °F. The median last spring frost is May 15 and the first fall frost October 14.

Where ZIP 54246 is

Outlined: the ZIP code area · tap the map for the zone at any spot · scroll or pinch to zoom

Not the official USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Zones come from the 2023 USDA hardiness-zone data by the PRISM Group, Oregon State University; we re-mapped and recolored them. The official map is at planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.

Zone6a−10 to −5 °F
Coldest night−23.3 to −20.6 °C
Last frostMay 15
First frostOct 14
2012 zone5b

Was 5b on the 2012 map — half a zone warmer now. The zone is the one at the center of the ZIP code; hilly ZIPs can span two zones. What zone 6a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Washington Island, WI…

Forecast data: National Weather Service (api.weather.gov), public domain. This is not a warning service — for official frost and freeze warnings see weather.gov.

Frost dates in Washington Island, WI

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 15median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 31only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 14median — 10% chance by Sep 28
Growing season152 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around May 3 and returns around October 28.

From the NOAA station Washington Is, WI — within 1 mile, elevation 686 ft. NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, 32 °F threshold. Low spots and valleys can freeze later in spring than the station.

When to plant vegetables in 54246

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Apr 3 – Apr 17
SpinachSow outdoors · Apr 3 – Apr 24
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 6 – Mar 20
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 24 – May 8
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 17 – May 1
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 24 – May 8
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 17 – May 1
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 24 – May 8
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 20 – Apr 3
TomatoesTransplant · May 22 – Jun 5
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 6 – Mar 20
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 29 – Jun 12
BeansSow outdoors · May 22 – Jun 5
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 22 – Jun 5
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 22 – Jun 5
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 19 – Sep 2
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 30 – Nov 4
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 15) and first fall frost (Oct 14) with the rules of thumb U.S. extension services publish. Cool-season crops take a light frost; warm-season crops do best once the soil is above about 60 °F.

When spring arrived in 2026

In 2026, spring leaf-out near 54246 came on Apr 25 — 4 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 29).

JanFebMarAprMayJun

The Spring Index marks the day when accumulated warmth is enough for lilac and honeysuckle to leaf out — a widely used signal that the growing season has started. Source: USA National Phenology Network, www.usanpn.org — Spring Indices, first leaf, 2026 (data as of 2026-09-08) and 30-year average 1991–2020 (CC BY 4.0).

Native plants for zone 6a in Wisconsin

526 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Wisconsin, and rated by the USDA to survive −10 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 6a. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 49

American basswood100 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −46 °FAmerican beech80 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −44 °FAmerican chestnut115 ft · blooms early summer · high shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican elm120 ft · blooms early spring · medium shade tolerance · to −46 °FAmerican sycamore100 ft · blooms spring · medium shade tolerance · to −34 °Farborvitae50 ft · blooms mid spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °F

Shrubs 94

alderleaf buckthorn3 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −33 °FAllegheny serviceberry35 ft · blooms early spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Falternateleaf dogwood25 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −47 °FAmerican black currant3 ft · blooms early spring · to −46 °FAmerican hazelnut10 ft · blooms spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican hornbeam30 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −34 °F

Wildflowers & perennials 200

alkali buttercup1 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican bur-reed3 ft · blooms indeterminate · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican eelgrass1 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican licorice4 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican lotus3 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −36 °FAmerican pokeweed7 ft · blooms mid summer · low shade tolerance · to −33 °F

Grasses 161

American beachgrass2.5 ft · blooms spring · high shade tolerance · to −28 °Farctic brome3 ft · blooms early summer · low shade tolerance · to −33 °Fawlfruit sedge4 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Fbeaked sedge4 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Fbeaked spikerush3 ft · blooms late spring · high shade tolerance · to −28 °FBebb's sedge3 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °F

Vines 6

American bittersweet15 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Fdevil's darning needles15 ft · blooms mid summer · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °Friverbank grape45 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °Fsummer grape30 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −23 °Ftrumpet creeper2 ft · blooms summer · high shade tolerance · to −13 °FVirginia creeper1 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −28 °F

Source: USDA, NRCS. 2026. The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov), National Plant Data Team — state distribution, native status and the “Temperature, Minimum” characteristic. Check light, moisture and soil needs before buying; local nurseries and your state native plant society can confirm what thrives in Washington Island, WI.

Soil in Washington Island, WI

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 54246 is Onaway — fine sandy loam, well drained.

TextureFine sandy loamdrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH6.5neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter2%moderate
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classPrime farmland if drainedUSDA classification

Map unit: Onaway-Ossineke fine sandy loams, moraine, 1 to 6 percent slopes.

Soil Survey Staff, Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA. Soil Survey Geographic (SSURGO) Database, via Soil Data Access, accessed 2026-10-29. The soil at the center point of ZIP 54246; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Washington Island, WI

Summer high76 °Faverage high, July
Winter low11 °Faverage low, January
Hot days0days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights149nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days1,734base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 40 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 43 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation30.2 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall59 inper year; 92 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 26 °F, low 11 °F 26°11° JanFebruary: average high 28 °F, low 11 °F 28°11° FebMarch: average high 36 °F, low 20 °F 36°20° MarApril: average high 47 °F, low 30 °F 47°30° AprMay: average high 59 °F, low 40 °F 59°40° MayJune: average high 70 °F, low 50 °F 70°50° JunJuly: average high 76 °F, low 57 °F 76°57° JulAugust: average high 75 °F, low 57 °F 75°57° AugSeptember: average high 68 °F, low 51 °F 68°51° SepOctober: average high 55 °F, low 40 °F 55°40° OctNovember: average high 42 °F, low 29 °F 42°29° NovDecember: average high 32 °F, low 19 °F 32°19° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″January: 1.58 in precipitation, 15 in snowfall 1.6❄15 JanFebruary: 1.14 in precipitation, 13 in snowfall 1.1❄13 FebMarch: 1.73 in precipitation, 9.5 in snowfall 1.7❄10 MarApril: 2.88 in precipitation, 5.7 in snowfall 2.9❄6 AprMay: 2.97 in precipitation 3.0 MayJune: 3.08 in precipitation 3.1 JunJuly: 2.84 in precipitation 2.8 JulAugust: 3.02 in precipitation 3.0 AugSeptember: 3.22 in precipitation 3.2 SepOctober: 3.60 in precipitation, 0.2 in snowfall 3.6 OctNovember: 2.34 in precipitation, 3.4 in snowfall 2.3❄3 NovDecember: 1.78 in precipitation, 12 in snowfall 1.8❄12 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Washington Is, WI (within 1 mile); precipitation: Washington Is, WI (within 1 mile). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

8 of the 8 nearest ZIP codes are in a different zone — elevation and distance from water change winter lows quickly.

542105b
Ellison Bay, WI · 11 mi
542345b
Sister Bay, WI · 16 mi
542115b
Ephraim, WI · 20 mi
542025b
Baileys Harbor, WI · 23 mi
542125b
Fish Creek, WI · 24 mi
498075a
Bark River, MI · 30 mi
498945a
Wells, MI · 30 mi
498355b
Garden, MI · 30 mi

Wisconsin planting zones →

Questions about 54246

What planting zone is ZIP code 54246?

ZIP code 54246 (Washington Island, WI) is in USDA hardiness zone 6a on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −10 to −5 °F (−23.3 to −20.6 °C).

When is the last frost in Washington Island, WI?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 54246 is May 15; after May 31 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Washington Is station.

When is the first frost in Washington Island, WI?

The median first fall frost near 54246 is October 14, giving a median frost-free growing season of 152 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 54246?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 20 – Apr 3 and set transplants outside around May 22 – Jun 5, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 54246 get?

About 30.2 inches of precipitation a year and 59 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Washington Is station).

How hot do summers get in Washington Island, WI?

The average high peaks at 76 °F in July, with about 0 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 54246 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Onaway at the center of ZIP 54246: fine sandy loam, well drained, pH about 6.5 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Washington Island, WI in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 54246 came on Apr 25 in 2026, 4 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 29), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Washington Island, WI?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 54246 is 15 h 40 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 54246 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 54246 in zone 5b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 6a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.