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Your nature year

Milwaukee, Wisconsinthrough the year

Also for Racine, WI, Waukesha, WI, West Allis, WI, Wauwatosa, WI, Brookfield, WI, Menomonee Falls, WI, New Berlin, WI, Oak Creek, WI, Greenfield, WI, Franklin, WI, Mount Pleasant, WI, Muskego, WI, Mequon, WI, Caledonia, WI: the same nearby places.

When do frost, green-up and fall color come to Milwaukee?

Within 150 miles we follow 3 places, out to Necedah Refuge 130 miles to the northwest. For a day trip, Horicon Refuge is 48 miles off; its wildlife by season is fall (local timing).

For fall foliage, the nearest is Indiana Dunes (110 mi, usually around mid-October). At the nearest NOAA station, Mt Mary College, the average first fall frost is Oct 18 and the last spring frost Apr 26, which leaves Milwaukee some 175 growing days. Leaves usually come out around Apr 11 and the first flowers around May 12. Across Wisconsin, fall color is usually well under way by early October.

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)

Beyond Milwaukee: Wisconsin all-year guide →

Near Milwaukee 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 18 · last spring frost around Apr 26NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Mt Mary College (3.2 mi, 50% dates)
    ~2 weeks
  • Necedah Refuge · 130 mi · Usually: OctoberFall foliage · in its window now
    In season
  • Horicon Refuge · 48 mi · Local timing: fallWildlife by season · in its window now
    In season
  • Wildflowers · Indiana Dunes · 110 miUsually: Most years, the wildflowers peak from late April through mid-May
    ~7 months

Nearest places to Milwaukee

Straight-line miles; roads are longer

Nearby, season by season

Real places within 150 miles, straight-line

Fall foliage

Spring migration

Wildflowers

  • Indiana Dunes · 110 miUsually: Most years, the wildflowers peak from late April through mid-May
    ~7 months
  • Necedah Refuge · 130 miLocal timing: June through August
    ~8 months

Wildlife by season

Milwaukee's nature year

From the town's own dates and its nearest places
  • Wildflowers · Indiana DunesApr–May
  • Spring green-upApr
  • Last spring frostApr
  • Spring migration · Necedah RefugeMay
  • Wildlife by season · Horicon RefugeNowSep–Nov
  • Fall color (WI)NowOct
  • First fall frostNowOct

Milwaukee's year at a glance

  • Frost possible
  • Frost-free, ~Apr 26 to ~Oct 18
  • First leaf ~Apr 11
  • First bloom ~May 12
  • Fall color under way ~Oct 8 (WI)
  • Today

Frost and green-up

Last spring frost

Apr 26

Average (50% date)

First fall frost

Oct 18

About 175 days without frost between

Spring green-up

Apr 11

First bloom around May 12

Frost: NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at Mt Mary College (3.2 mi from Milwaukee), 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 Milwaukee

NOAA 1991–2020 daily normals

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 Mt Mary College (3.2 mi away): 40 inches of snow in an average year, about 12.9 days with 1 inch or more.

0%15%30%10% lineOctDecFebApr

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 Milwaukee?

On average around Oct 18, and the last spring frost around Apr 26: about 175 days without frost between. These are NOAA's 1991–2020 normals at Mt Mary College, 3.2 miles away (the day a 32 °F night is as likely as not).

When does spring green-up reach Milwaukee?

The USA-NPN Spring Index puts first leaf around Apr 11 and first bloom around May 12, on average for 1991–2020 at the town.

Where can I see fall foliage near Milwaukee?

Indiana Dunes, 110 miles (usually around mid-October); Necedah Refuge, 130 miles (usually: October). Distances are straight-line.

Where can I see spring migration near Milwaukee?

Necedah Refuge, 130 miles (local timing: May). Distances are straight-line.

When does it start snowing in Milwaukee?

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 Mt Mary College. An average year brings 40 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)

All our sources and how we use them →