Your nature year
Fond du Lac, Wisconsinthrough the year
When do frost, green-up and fall color come to Fond du Lac?
The USA-NPN spring index puts first leaf here around Apr 16 and first bloom around May 14. At the nearest NOAA station, Fond Du Lac 1 SW, the average first fall frost is Oct 19 and the last spring frost Apr 27, which leaves Fond du Lac some 175 growing days.
Statewide, Wisconsin's fall color is usually well under way by early October. Head southwest for the closest of the 3 places we follow around Fond du Lac. Horicon Refuge, 16 miles from Fond du Lac, is the nearest wildlife by season spot on this site, fall (local timing). Necedah Refuge (88 mi) is the pick for fall foliage, October (usually).
Updated Oct 2. Sources: US Census Bureau, 2024 Gazetteer (places) ↗ (opens in a new tab), US Census Bureau, city and town population estimates, 2024 ↗ (opens in a new tab), NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (annual/seasonal) ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Near Fond du Lac right now
- Fall color is usually well under way by early October in WisconsinStatewide · USA-NPN volunteer observations, 2020–2025 · not a forecast~6 days
- First fall frost usually around Oct 19 · last spring frost around Apr 27NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Fond Du Lac 1 SW (1.4 mi, 50% dates)~2 weeks
- Necedah Refuge · 88 mi · Usually: OctoberFall foliage · in its window nowIn season
- Horicon Refuge · 16 mi · Local timing: fallWildlife by season · in its window nowIn season
- Spring migration · Necedah Refuge · 88 miLocal timing: May~7 months
Nearest places to Fond du Lac
- Horicon RefugeWildlife refugeLocal timing: fall16 mi
- Necedah RefugeWildlife refugeUsually: October88 mi
Nearby, season by season
Fall foliage
- Necedah Refuge · 88 miUsually: OctoberIn season
- Lakewood · 105 miStatewide: usually well under way by early October~3 days
Spring migration
- Necedah Refuge · 88 miLocal timing: May~7 months
Wildflowers
- Necedah Refuge · 88 miLocal timing: June through August~8 months
Wildlife by season
- Horicon Refuge · 16 miLocal timing: fallIn season
Fond du Lac's nature year
- Apr: Spring green-upApr
- Apr: Last spring frostApr
- May: Spring migration · Necedah RefugeMay
- Wildflowers · Necedah RefugeJun–Aug
- Wildlife by season · Horicon RefugeNowSep–Nov
- Oct: Fall color (WI)NowOct
- Oct: First fall frostNowOct
Fond du Lac's year at a glance
- Frost possible
- Frost-free, ~Apr 27 to ~Oct 19
- First leaf ~Apr 16
- First bloom ~May 14
- Fall color under way ~Oct 8 (WI)
- Today
Frost and green-up
Last spring frost
Apr 27
Average (50% date)
First fall frost
Oct 19
About 175 days without frost between
Spring green-up
Apr 16
First bloom around May 14
Frost: NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at Fond Du Lac 1 SW (1.4 mi from Fond du Lac), the day a 32 °F night is as likely as not. Green-up: the USA-NPN Spring Index, 1991–2020 average at the town.
Snow in Fond du Lac
Snow usually becomes possible around Nov 26 (our calculation from NOAA's daily snow chances: the first day the chance of 0.1" or more of snow reaches 10%). NOAA's normals at Fond Du Lac Wwtp (1.7 mi away): 38 inches of snow in an average year, about 14.7 days with 1 inch or more.
NOAA's chance of at least 0.1 inch of snow on each date (one value per week, September to May), averaged over 1991–2020. A typical year, not a forecast.
Questions people ask
When is the first frost in Fond du Lac?
On average around Oct 19, and the last spring frost around Apr 27: about 175 days without frost between. These are NOAA's 1991–2020 normals at Fond Du Lac 1 SW, 1.4 miles away (the day a 32 °F night is as likely as not).
When does spring green-up reach Fond du Lac?
The USA-NPN Spring Index puts first leaf around Apr 16 and first bloom around May 14, on average for 1991–2020 at the town.
Where can I see fall foliage near Fond du Lac?
Necedah Refuge, 88 miles (usually: October); Lakewood, 105 miles (statewide: usually well under way by early October). Distances are straight-line.
Where can I see spring migration near Fond du Lac?
Necedah Refuge, 88 miles (local timing: May). Distances are straight-line.
When does it start snowing in Fond du Lac?
Snow usually becomes possible around Nov 26: our calculation from NOAA's daily snow chances: the first day the chance of 0.1" or more of snow reaches 10%, at Fond Du Lac Wwtp. An average year brings 38 inches (NOAA 1991–2020). A typical year, not a forecast.Sources: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (annual/seasonal snowfall) ↗ (opens in a new tab), NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (daily snowfall probabilities) ↗ (opens in a new tab)
How we know
US Census Bureau, 2024 Gazetteer (places) (opens in a new tab) (Sep 27) · US Census Bureau, city and town population estimates, 2024 (opens in a new tab) (Sep 27) · NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (annual/seasonal) (opens in a new tab) (Sep 27) · USA National Phenology Network, Spring Index 1991–2020 averages (opens in a new tab) (Sep 27) · USA National Phenology Network, colored leaves observations (opens in a new tab) (Oct 2)