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

Planting zone for 54981 — Waupaca, WI

ZIP code 54981 (Waupaca, Waupaca County) is in USDA zone 5a: the coldest winter night averages −20 to −15 °F. The median last spring frost is May 8 and the first fall frost October 6.

Where ZIP 54981 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.

Zone5a−20 to −15 °F
Coldest night−28.9 to −26.1 °C
Last frostMay 8
First frostOct 6
2012 zone5a

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 5a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Waupaca, 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 Waupaca, WI

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 8median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 21only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 6median — 10% chance by Sep 23
Growing season151 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 28 and returns around October 17.

From the NOAA station Waupaca, WI — 4 miles away, elevation 837 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 54981

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 27 – Apr 10
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 27 – Apr 17
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 27 – Mar 13
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 17 – May 1
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 10 – Apr 24
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 17 – May 1
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 10 – Apr 24
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 17 – May 1
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 13 – Mar 27
TomatoesTransplant · May 15 – May 29
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 27 – Mar 13
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 22 – Jun 5
BeansSow outdoors · May 15 – May 29
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 15 – May 29
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 15 – May 29
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 11 – Aug 25
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 22 – Oct 27
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 8) and first fall frost (Oct 6) 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 54981 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).

Soil in Waupaca, WI

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 54981 is Cathro — muck, very poorly drained.

TextureMucktop layer
DrainageVery poorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter72.5%high
Hydrologic groupA/Ddrains fast once dried out; wet otherwise
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Cathro and Markey mucks.

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 54981; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Waupaca, WI

Summer high82 °Faverage high, July
Winter low8 °Faverage low, January
Hot days8days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights162nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,383base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 32 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 51 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
Snowfall49 inper year; 98 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 10 °F 29°10° FebMarch: average high 41 °F, low 21 °F 41°21° MarApril: average high 55 °F, low 33 °F 55°33° AprMay: average high 68 °F, low 45 °F 68°45° MayJune: average high 77 °F, low 55 °F 77°55° JunJuly: average high 82 °F, low 59 °F 82°59° JulAugust: average high 80 °F, low 57 °F 80°57° AugSeptember: average high 72 °F, low 49 °F 72°49° SepOctober: average high 58 °F, low 37 °F 58°37° OctNovember: average high 43 °F, low 26 °F 43°26° NovDecember: average high 30 °F, low 15 °F 30°15° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 1.41 in precipitation, 10.9 in snowfall 1.4❄11 JanFebruary: 1.11 in precipitation, 11.9 in snowfall 1.1❄12 FebMarch: 1.94 in precipitation, 7 in snowfall 1.9❄7 MarApril: 3.44 in precipitation, 4.7 in snowfall 3.4❄5 AprMay: 4.07 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 4.1 MayJune: 4.49 in precipitation 4.5 JunJuly: 3.77 in precipitation 3.8 JulAugust: 3.86 in precipitation 3.9 AugSeptember: 3.34 in precipitation 3.3 SepOctober: 2.61 in precipitation, 0.3 in snowfall 2.6 OctNovember: 2.06 in precipitation, 2.1 in snowfall 2.1❄2 NovDecember: 1.71 in precipitation, 12.3 in snowfall 1.7❄12 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Waupaca, WI (4 mi away); precipitation: Waupaca, WI (4 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

549465a
King, WI · 1 mi
549835a
Weyauwega, WI · 10 mi
549775a
Scandinavia, WI · 10 mi
549765a
Saxeville, WI · 10 mi
549845a
Wild Rose, WI · 10 mi
544065a
Amherst, WI · 11 mi
549655a
Pine River, WI · 12 mi
549094b
Almond, WI · 12 mi

Wisconsin planting zones →

Questions about 54981

What planting zone is ZIP code 54981?

ZIP code 54981 (Waupaca, WI) is in USDA hardiness zone 5a on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −20 to −15 °F (−28.9 to −26.1 °C).

When is the last frost in Waupaca, WI?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 54981 is May 8; after May 21 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Waupaca station.

When is the first frost in Waupaca, WI?

The median first fall frost near 54981 is October 6, giving a median frost-free growing season of 151 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 54981?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 13 – Mar 27 and set transplants outside around May 15 – May 29, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 54981 get?

About 33.8 inches of precipitation a year and 49 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Waupaca station).

How hot do summers get in Waupaca, 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 54981 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Cathro at the center of ZIP 54981: muck, very poorly drained.

Did spring come early in Waupaca, WI in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 54981 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 Waupaca, WI?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 54981 is 15 h 32 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).