Your nature year
Ames, Iowathrough the year
When do frost, green-up and fall color come to Ames?
Leaves usually come out around Apr 7 and the first flowers around May 5. About 4 weeks pass between first leaf and first bloom here.
At the nearest NOAA station, Ames Municipal Airport, the average first fall frost is Oct 8 and the last spring frost Apr 26, which leaves Ames some 165 growing days. For a day trip, DeSoto Refuge is 129 miles off; its winter wildlife is early December, and again in late February and early March (local timing). For spring migration, the nearest is Port Louisa Refuge (140 mi, April to May (local timing)). Within 150 miles we follow 2 places, out to Port Louisa Refuge 140 miles to the southeast.
Updated Sep 27. 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)
Ames's year at a glance
- Frost possible
- Frost-free, ~Apr 26 to ~Oct 8
- First leaf ~Apr 7
- First bloom ~May 5
- Today
Near Ames right now
- First fall frost usually around Oct 8 · last spring frost around Apr 26NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Ames Municipal Airport (2.5 mi, 50% dates)~9 days
- Winter wildlife · DeSoto Refuge · 129 miLocal timing: early December, and again in late February and early March~2 months
Ames's nature year
- Spring migration · Port Louisa RefugeApr–May
- Apr: Spring green-upApr
- Apr: Last spring frostApr
- Oct: First fall frostOct
- Winter wildlife · DeSoto RefugeDec–Mar
Nearby, season by season
Spring migration
- Port Louisa Refuge · 140 miLocal timing: April to May~6 months
Winter wildlife
- DeSoto Refuge · 129 miLocal timing: early December, and again in late February and early March~2 months
Snow in Ames
Snow usually becomes possible around Dec 7 (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 Ames 5 SE (5.9 mi away): 27 inches of snow in an average year, about 12.6 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.
Frost and green-up
Last spring frost
Apr 26
Average (50% date)
First fall frost
Oct 8
About 165 days without frost between
Spring green-up
Apr 7
First bloom around May 5
Frost: NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at Ames Municipal Airport (2.5 mi from Ames), the day a 32 °F night is as likely as not. Green-up: the USA-NPN Spring Index, 1991–2020 average at the town.
Questions people ask
When is the first frost in Ames?
On average around Oct 8, and the last spring frost around Apr 26: about 165 days without frost between. These are NOAA's 1991–2020 normals at Ames Municipal Airport, 2.5 miles away (the day a 32 °F night is as likely as not).
When does spring green-up reach Ames?
The USA-NPN Spring Index puts first leaf around Apr 7 and first bloom around May 5, on average for 1991–2020 at the town.
Where can I see spring migration near Ames?
Port Louisa Refuge, 140 miles (local timing: April to May). Distances are straight-line.
Where can I see winter wildlife near Ames?
DeSoto Refuge, 129 miles (local timing: early December, and again in late February and early March). Distances are straight-line.
When does it start snowing in Ames?
Snow usually becomes possible around Dec 7: our calculation from NOAA's daily snow chances: the first day the chance of 0.1" or more of snow reaches 10%, at Ames 5 SE. An average year brings 27 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)