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

Planting zone for 54491 — White Lake, WI

ZIP code 54491 (White Lake, Langlade County) is in USDA zone 4b: the coldest winter night averages −25 to −20 °F. The median last spring frost is May 22 and the first fall frost September 28.

Where ZIP 54491 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.

Zone4b−25 to −20 °F
Coldest night−31.7 to −28.9 °C
Last frostMay 22
First frostSep 28
2012 zone4a

Was 4a 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 4b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for White Lake, 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 White Lake, WI

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 22median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsJune 3only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostSeptember 28median — 10% chance by Sep 12
Growing season129 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around May 9 and returns around October 8.

From the NOAA station Lakewood 3 Ne, WI — 14 miles away, elevation 1,198 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 54491

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Apr 10 – Apr 24
SpinachSow outdoors · Apr 10 – May 1
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 13 – Mar 27
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · May 1 – May 15
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 24 – May 8
PotatoesPlant outdoors · May 1 – May 15
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 24 – May 8
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · May 1 – May 15
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 27 – Apr 10
TomatoesTransplant · May 29 – Jun 12
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 13 – Mar 27
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Jun 5 – Jun 19
BeansSow outdoors · May 29 – Jun 12
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 29 – Jun 12
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 29 – Jun 12
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 3 – Aug 17
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 14 – Oct 19
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 22) and first fall frost (Sep 28) 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 54491 came on Apr 18 — 5 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 23).

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 4b in Wisconsin

486 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Wisconsin, and rated by the USDA to survive −25 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 4b. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 48

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 89

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 178

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 152

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 4

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 °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 White Lake, WI.

Soil in White Lake, WI

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 54491 is Pence — sandy loam, somewhat excessively drained.

TextureSandy loamdrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH5.9moderately acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageSomewhat excessively drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter2%moderate
Hydrologic groupAwater soaks in fast
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Pence sandy loam, 15 to 35 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 54491; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in White Lake, WI

Summer high79 °Faverage high, July
Winter low4 °Faverage low, January
Hot days5days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights188nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days1,845base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 39 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 44 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation33.8 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall55 inper year; 105 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

−10°0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 23 °F, low 4 °F 23°4° JanFebruary: average high 27 °F, low 6 °F 27°6° FebMarch: average high 39 °F, low 16 °F 39°16° MarApril: average high 52 °F, low 28 °F 52°28° AprMay: average high 66 °F, low 40 °F 66°40° MayJune: average high 75 °F, low 51 °F 75°51° JunJuly: average high 79 °F, low 55 °F 79°55° JulAugust: average high 76 °F, low 53 °F 76°53° AugSeptember: average high 69 °F, low 46 °F 69°46° SepOctober: average high 55 °F, low 34 °F 55°34° OctNovember: average high 40 °F, low 23 °F 40°23° NovDecember: average high 28 °F, low 12 °F 28°12° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 1.33 in precipitation, 11.3 in snowfall 1.3❄11 JanFebruary: 1.21 in precipitation, 12.1 in snowfall 1.2❄12 FebMarch: 1.90 in precipitation, 8.5 in snowfall 1.9❄9 MarApril: 2.99 in precipitation, 6.5 in snowfall 3.0❄7 AprMay: 3.67 in precipitation, 0.4 in snowfall 3.7 MayJune: 4.48 in precipitation 4.5 JunJuly: 3.57 in precipitation 3.6 JulAugust: 3.67 in precipitation 3.7 AugSeptember: 3.53 in precipitation 3.5 SepOctober: 3.41 in precipitation, 0.6 in snowfall 3.4❄1 OctNovember: 2.15 in precipitation, 4.4 in snowfall 2.1❄4 NovDecember: 1.87 in precipitation, 11.6 in snowfall 1.9❄12 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Lakewood 3 Ne, WI (14 mi away); precipitation: White Lake 1 Se, WI (6 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 4b.

541754b
Townsend, WI · 8 mi
544304b
Elton, WI · 9 mi
544184b
Bryant, WI · 11 mi
544654b
Pickerel, WI · 13 mi
541494b
Mountain, WI · 15 mi
545664b
Wabeno, WI · 15 mi
541504b
Neopit, WI · 18 mi
541384b
Lakewood, WI · 18 mi

Wisconsin planting zones →

Questions about 54491

What planting zone is ZIP code 54491?

ZIP code 54491 (White Lake, WI) is in USDA hardiness zone 4b on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −25 to −20 °F (−31.7 to −28.9 °C).

When is the last frost in White Lake, WI?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 54491 is May 22; after June 3 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Lakewood 3 Ne station.

When is the first frost in White Lake, WI?

The median first fall frost near 54491 is September 28, giving a median frost-free growing season of 129 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 54491?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 27 – Apr 10 and set transplants outside around May 29 – Jun 12, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 54491 get?

About 33.8 inches of precipitation a year and 55 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, White Lake 1 Se station).

How hot do summers get in White Lake, WI?

The average high peaks at 79 °F in July, with about 5 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 54491 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Pence at the center of ZIP 54491: sandy loam, somewhat excessively drained, pH about 5.9 (moderately acidic).

Did spring come early in White Lake, WI in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 54491 came on Apr 18 in 2026, 5 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 23), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in White Lake, WI?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 54491 is 15 h 39 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 54491 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 54491 in zone 4a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 4b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.