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

Planting zone for 54702 — Eau Claire, WI

ZIP code 54702 (Eau Claire, Eau Claire County) is in USDA zone 4b: the coldest winter night averages −25 to −20 °F. The median last spring frost is April 24 and the first fall frost October 14.

Where ZIP 54702 is

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 frostApr 24
First frostOct 14
2012 zone4b

Same zone as on the 2012 map. 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 Eau Claire, 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 Eau Claire, WI

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 24median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 7only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 14median — 10% chance by Sep 26
Growing season170 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 14 and returns around October 26.

From the NOAA station Eau Claire 3sw, WI — 2 miles away, elevation 879 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 54702

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 13 – Mar 27
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 13 – Apr 3
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 13 – Feb 27
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 3 – Apr 17
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 27 – Apr 10
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 3 – Apr 17
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 27 – Apr 10
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 3 – Apr 17
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 27 – Mar 13
TomatoesTransplant · May 1 – May 15
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 13 – Feb 27
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 8 – May 22
BeansSow outdoors · May 1 – May 15
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 1 – May 15
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 1 – May 15
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 (Apr 24) 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 54702 came on Apr 11 — 6 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 17).

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 Eau Claire, WI.

Soil in Eau Claire, WI

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 54702 is Plainfield — loamy sand, excessively drained.

TextureLoamy sanddrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH5.7moderately acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageExcessively drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter1.25%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupAwater soaks in fast
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Plainfield loamy sand, river valley, 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 54702; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Eau Claire, WI

Summer high82 °Faverage high, July
Winter low8 °Faverage low, January
Hot days8days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights149nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,719base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 36 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 47 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation32.8 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall54 inper year; 95 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 25 °F, low 8 °F 25°8° JanFebruary: average high 29 °F, low 12 °F 29°12° FebMarch: average high 42 °F, low 24 °F 42°24° MarApril: average high 56 °F, low 36 °F 56°36° AprMay: average high 69 °F, low 49 °F 69°49° MayJune: average high 78 °F, low 58 °F 78°58° JunJuly: average high 82 °F, low 62 °F 82°62° JulAugust: average high 80 °F, low 61 °F 80°61° AugSeptember: average high 72 °F, low 52 °F 72°52° SepOctober: average high 58 °F, low 40 °F 58°40° OctNovember: average high 42 °F, low 27 °F 42°27° NovDecember: average high 30 °F, low 15 °F 30°15° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 1.10 in precipitation, 10 in snowfall 1.1❄10 JanFebruary: 1.14 in precipitation, 13.5 in snowfall 1.1❄14 FebMarch: 1.93 in precipitation, 8.3 in snowfall 1.9❄8 MarApril: 3.27 in precipitation, 4.5 in snowfall 3.3❄5 AprMay: 4.12 in precipitation, 0.5 in snowfall 4.1❄1 MayJune: 4.53 in precipitation 4.5 JunJuly: 3.68 in precipitation 3.7 JulAugust: 3.84 in precipitation 3.8 AugSeptember: 3.53 in precipitation 3.5 SepOctober: 2.48 in precipitation, 0.8 in snowfall 2.5❄1 OctNovember: 1.78 in precipitation, 3.3 in snowfall 1.8❄3 NovDecember: 1.35 in precipitation, 13.1 in snowfall 1.4❄13 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Eau Claire 3sw, WI (2 mi away); precipitation: Eau Claire 3sw, WI (2 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 4b.

547034b
Eau Claire, WI · 2 mi
547204b
Altoona, WI · 3 mi
547014b
Eau Claire, WI · 4 mi
547744b
Chippewa Falls, WI · 10 mi
547394b
Elk Mound, WI · 10 mi
547294b
Chippewa Falls, WI · 11 mi
547644b
Rock Falls, WI · 11 mi
547424b
Fall Creek, WI · 12 mi

All 3 ZIP codes in Eau Claire → · Wisconsin planting zones →

Questions about 54702

What planting zone is ZIP code 54702?

ZIP code 54702 (Eau Claire, 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 Eau Claire, WI?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 54702 is April 24; after May 7 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Eau Claire 3sw station.

When is the first frost in Eau Claire, WI?

The median first fall frost near 54702 is October 14, giving a median frost-free growing season of 170 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 54702?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 27 – Mar 13 and set transplants outside around May 1 – May 15, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 54702 get?

About 32.8 inches of precipitation a year and 54 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Eau Claire 3sw station).

How hot do summers get in Eau Claire, WI?

The average high peaks at 82 °F in July, with about 8 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 54702 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Plainfield at the center of ZIP 54702: loamy sand, excessively drained, pH about 5.7 (moderately acidic).

Did spring come early in Eau Claire, WI in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 54702 came on Apr 11 in 2026, 6 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 17), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Eau Claire, WI?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 54702 is 15 h 36 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).