Your nature year
Atlanta, Georgiathrough the year
Also for South Fulton, GA, Sandy Springs, GA, Roswell, GA, Johns Creek, GA, Mableton, GA, Alpharetta, GA, Marietta, GA, Brookhaven, GA, Smyrna, GA, Dunwoody, GA, Peachtree Corners, GA, Douglasville, GA, Woodstock, GA, East Point, GA, Kennesaw, GA, Tucker, GA, Stockbridge, GA, Duluth, GA, Chamblee, GA, Union City, GA: the same nearby places.
When do frost, green-up and fall color come to Atlanta?
The town is about 954 feet above sea level. Leaves usually come out around Feb 12 and the first flowers around Mar 18. About 5 weeks pass between first leaf and first bloom here. Atlanta usually sees its last spring frost around Mar 24 and its first fall frost around Nov 8, a frost-free stretch of about 229 days at NOAA's Atlanta Fulton Co Airport station, 5.9 miles away. Little River Canyon, 82 miles from Atlanta, is the nearest fall foliage spot on this site, usually at its best Oct 21–Nov 10. For wildflowers, the nearest is Cherokee National Forest (114 mi, Mar 21–May 31 (local timing)). Head northwest for the closest of the 7 places we follow around Atlanta.
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)
Best this weekend nearby
- Great Smoky Mountains, Tennessee · 141 mi · Fall foliage
Usually Oct 1–Nov 10
Sat Oct 3: Chance Rain Showers, 75°F · Sun Oct 4: Showers And Thunderstorms Likely, 70°F
No report yet
Places in their own usual window that weekend; reports are the latest official ones, forecasts from the National Weather Service.
Atlanta's year at a glance
- Frost possible
- Frost-free, ~Mar 24 to ~Nov 8
- First leaf ~Feb 12
- First bloom ~Mar 18
- Today
Near Atlanta right now
- First fall frost usually around Nov 8 · last spring frost around Mar 24NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Atlanta Fulton Co Airport (5.9 mi, 50% dates)~6 weeks
- Fall foliage · Little River Canyon · 82 miusually Oct 21–Nov 10~3 weeks
Atlanta's nature year
- Spring green-upFeb
- Wildflowers · Cherokee National ForestMar–May
- Last spring frostMar
- Synchronous fireflies · Great Smoky MountainsMay–Jun
- Fall foliage · Little River CanyonOct–Nov
- First fall frostNov
Nearby, season by season
Fall foliage
- Little River Canyon · 82 miusually Oct 21–Nov 10~3 weeks
- Talladega National Forest · 82 miStatewide: usually well under way by early November~5 weeks
- DeSoto State Park · 86 miStatewide: usually well under way by early November~5 weeks
Synchronous fireflies
- Great Smoky Mountains · 141 miusually May 21–Jun 10~8 months
Wildflowers
- Cherokee National Forest · 114 miLocal timing: Mar 21–May 31~6 months
- Nantahala National Forest · 114 miLocal timing: Mar 15–May 15~6 months
- Great Smoky Mountains · 141 miusually Apr 11–30~6 months
Frost and green-up
Last spring frost
Mar 24
Average (50% date)
First fall frost
Nov 8
About 229 days without frost between
Spring green-up
Feb 12
First bloom around Mar 18
Frost: NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at Atlanta Fulton Co Airport (5.9 mi from Atlanta), 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 Atlanta?
On average around Nov 8, and the last spring frost around Mar 24: about 229 days without frost between. These are NOAA's 1991–2020 normals at Atlanta Fulton Co Airport, 5.9 miles away (the day a 32 °F night is as likely as not).
When does spring green-up reach Atlanta?
The USA-NPN Spring Index puts first leaf around Feb 12 and first bloom around Mar 18, on average for 1991–2020 at the town.
Where can I see fall foliage near Atlanta?
Little River Canyon, 82 miles (usually Oct 21–Nov 10); Talladega National Forest, 82 miles (statewide: usually well under way by early November); DeSoto State Park, 86 miles (statewide: usually well under way by early November). Distances are straight-line.
Where can I see synchronous fireflies near Atlanta?
Great Smoky Mountains, 141 miles (usually May 21–Jun 10). Distances are straight-line.
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)