Few U.S. towns have colder winter nights than Popple River
The warmest part of a July day comes in at 78° on average. Its July afternoons stay fresher than in 96% of U.S. towns. The latest 30-year average runs 1.7° warmer than 1901–2000’s, with December up the most. Tender plants can go out after about June 4; in half of years the first frost comes by September 10.
A year in Popple River at a glance
Each month’s typical high and low, and what it brings.
What stands out about Popple River’s climate
Compared with towns across the U.S., with Popple River’s place in Wisconsin beside it.
What a year in Popple River feels like
Typical highs and lows by season and by month, from NOAA’s 30-year normals.
About 95 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by June 4 and the first by September 10. Frost and day counts come from NOAA’s station at Stambaugh 2sse, MI, 16 miles from the town’s center, 130 ft lower.
The 2023 USDA map puts Popple River’s center in zone 4b: the coldest night of a typical winter, averaged over 1991–2020, reaches about −24°. Plant labels use the zone; frost dates tell you when to plant.
Freezing nights by month
Average nights at or below 32°
90° days by month
Average days at 90° or more
About 67 inches of snow a winter
Snow, measured at Stambaugh 2sse, MI, falls mostly in January and December. Precipitation (rain plus melted snow) adds up to 32 inches a year; June is the wettest month and February the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 132 days a year.
Rain + melted snow by month
Inches of water
Snowfall by month
Inches of snow
Heating and cooling a home in Popple River
98% of the work is heating, so the furnace matters far more than the air conditioner. Months averaging under 55° run from October through May.
Degree days add up how far each day’s average falls below (heating) or rises above (cooling) 65° over a year. NOAA normals at Stambaugh 2sse, MI.
Living with Popple River’s climate
What the numbers mean for a garden, a free afternoon and a bad-weather day.
95 frost-free days in zone 4b. The last frost comes by Jun 4 in half of years, so many gardeners wait a week or two past that to set out tomatoes. The first fall frost comes by Sep 10.
Months with highs of 62–84° and lows of 40° or more: June, July, August and September. 34 miles of trails are waiting.
Parks & trails →Cold waves are 71% of the yearly building losses FEMA expects in Popple River from natural hazards, the largest share. Normals are averages; the hazards page covers the extremes.
Natural hazards →Popple River and its neighbors
Every town next door is within a degree of Popple River in January and July, closer than the 5 km grid can tell apart. Tap a town to see its climate.
Climates most like Popple River’s, farther away
TownRatings’ own comparison of NOAA 1991–2020 normals, not a NOAA product: places of 5,000+ at least 150 miles away, one per state, closest on January low, July high, precipitation and snow.
| Town | Jan. low | July high | Precip. | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Popple River, WI | 3° | 78° | 32" | 67" |
| Cloquet, MN | 0° | 78° | 31" | 71" |
| Beekmantown, NY | 9° | 80° | 35" | 80" |
| Littleton, NH | 6° | 80° | 40" | 68" |
| St. Johnsbury, VT | 5° | 79° | 41" | 87" |
Temperatures and rain come from NOAA’s 5 km grid, so each town gets its own value. Snow and frost-free days come from the nearest weather station, so neighbors often share them.
Warmer than it used to be
The last 30 years in Popple River averaged 1.7° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in December (+3.3°).
A bigger shift than in 72% of U.S. towns.
Change by month
The two periods overlap (1991–2000 is in both), which makes the gap a little smaller than it would be between separate periods.
How Popple River compares
Against 12,954 U.S. towns of 2,500 or more (one per 5 km climate cell), with Popple River’s place among Wisconsin’s.
Popple River weather by month
Highs, lows and precipitation from NOAA’s grid at Popple River’s center; snow, wet days and snow on the ground from Stambaugh 2sse, MI. 1991–2020 normals.
| Month | High | Low | Rain + melt | Snow | Wet days | Snow on ground | 30-yr range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 22° | 3° | 1.2" | 14.6" | 10 | 30 | 0° – 23° |
| February | 27° | 4° | 1.1" | 12.5" | 7 | 29 | 2° – 29° |
| March | 38° | 14° | 1.6" | 8.7" | 8 | 27 | 15° – 41° |
| April | 51° | 26° | 2.8" | 7.4" | 11 | 10 | 30° – 46° |
| May | 65° | 38° | 3.5" | 0.3" | 12 | 0 | 45° – 58° |
| June | 74° | 49° | 4.0" | 0.0" | 12 | 0 | 57° – 66° |
| July | 78° | 53° | 3.8" | 0.0" | 12 | 0 | 59° – 70° |
| August | 76° | 51° | 3.3" | 0.0" | 11 | 0 | 58° – 67° |
| September | 67° | 44° | 3.7" | 0.0" | 13 | 0 | 49° – 61° |
| October | 54° | 33° | 3.4" | 2.1" | 13 | 1 | 36° – 49° |
| November | 38° | 22° | 2.0" | 8.2" | 11 | 10 | 20° – 40° |
| December | 26° | 10° | 1.6" | 13.6" | 11 | 26 | 8° – 29° |
| Year | 51° | 29° | 31.9" | 67.4" | 132 | 132 |
How much a month can swing
A normal is an average. February swings the most: from 1991 to 2020 its average ranged from 2° to 29°. August is the most reliable, staying within 9°.
Where Popple River’s numbers come from
Normals are 30-year averages, not a forecast. How TownRatings reads climate data →
- Temperatures and precipitation: NOAA’s gridded 1991–2020 normals for the 5 km cell at Popple River’s center.
- Snow: Stambaugh 2sse, MI.
- Frost, freezing nights, 90° and 100° days, heating and cooling: Stambaugh 2sse, MI, 16 miles from the town’s center, 130 ft lower; the nearest station that passes our checks for distance, height and agreement with the grid.
- Growing zone: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, 2023. USDA Agricultural Research Service and PRISM Group, Oregon State University, prism.oregonstate.edu/phzm, accessed 8 Oct 2026.
- Then and now: NOAA’s gridded normals for 1901–2000 at the same cell.
- Storms and extremes: FEMA National Risk Index (expected annual losses to buildings).
Common questions about Popple River’s climate
What is the weather like in Popple River?
A typical July afternoon reaches 78°, a January night drops to 3°, and about 67 inches of snow falls in a normal winter. Colder January nights than all but 110 U.S. towns; cooler July afternoons than 96% of U.S. towns.
How cold does it get in Popple River in winter?
January nights average 3°. About 211 nights a year reach 32° or below and 49 reach 0° or below. In the coldest January of the last 30 years the month averaged 0°.
How much snow does Popple River get?
About 67 inches in a normal winter at Stambaugh 2sse, MI, most of it in January and December, with snow on the ground about 132 days a year.
How hot does it get in Popple River?
July, with a typical high of 78° and a low of 53°. About 2 days a year reach 90° (Stambaugh 2sse, MI).
When is the first and last frost in Popple River?
In half of years the last spring frost (32°) comes by June 4 and the first fall frost by September 10, about 95 frost-free days, at Stambaugh 2sse, MI.
What growing zone is Popple River in?
Zone 4b on the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map: the coldest night of a typical winter reaches about −24°.
What is the best time of year to visit Popple River?
By one simple rule (highs of 62–84° and lows of 40° or more), June, July, August and September. The rule is ours, not NOAA’s; the month table has the numbers to judge by.
Is Popple River getting warmer?
Yes: 1991–2020 averaged 1.7° warmer than 1901–2000 on NOAA’s grid. A bigger shift than 72% of U.S. towns.
Neighbors talk weather
Gardens, snow, and the best days of the year in Popple River.
Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 and 1901–2000; USDA/PRISM 2023 hardiness zones; FEMA National Risk Index. Today’s forecast: National Weather Service.