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Your nature year

Bloomington, Illinoisthrough the year

Also for Normal, IL: the same nearby places.

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

We follow 2 places within 150 miles of Bloomington; the nearest lies 124 miles to the northwest. The closest place we follow is Port Louisa Refuge, 124 miles away, for spring migration, April to May (local timing).

For fall foliage, the nearest is Indiana Dunes (126 mi, usually around mid-October). Bloomington usually sees its last spring frost around Apr 25 and its first fall frost around Oct 16, a frost-free stretch of about 174 days at NOAA's Normal 4ne station, 5.2 miles away. Spring green-up reaches town around Mar 31, with first blooms around Apr 27. Across Illinois, fall color is usually well under way by late October.

Updated Sep 29. 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)

Bloomington's year at a glance

  • Frost possible
  • Frost-free, ~Apr 25 to ~Oct 16
  • First leaf ~Mar 31
  • First bloom ~Apr 27
  • Fall color under way ~Oct 27 (IL)
  • Today

Near Bloomington right now

  • Fall color is usually well under way by late October in IllinoisStatewide · USA-NPN volunteer observations, 2020–2025 · not a forecast
    ~4 weeks
  • First fall frost usually around Oct 16 · last spring frost around Apr 25NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Normal 4ne (5.2 mi, 50% dates)
    ~2 weeks
  • Fall foliage · Indiana Dunes · 126 miusually around mid-October
    ~12 days

Bloomington's nature year

From the town's own dates and its nearest places
  • Spring green-upMar
  • Spring migration · Port Louisa RefugeApr–May
  • Last spring frostApr
  • Fall color (IL)Oct
  • First fall frostOct

Nearby, season by season

Real places within 150 miles, straight-line

Fall foliage

Spring migration

Frost and green-up

Last spring frost

Apr 25

Average (50% date)

First fall frost

Oct 16

About 174 days without frost between

Spring green-up

Mar 31

First bloom around Apr 27

Frost: NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at Normal 4ne (5.2 mi from Bloomington), 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 Bloomington?

On average around Oct 16, and the last spring frost around Apr 25: about 174 days without frost between. These are NOAA's 1991–2020 normals at Normal 4ne, 5.2 miles away (the day a 32 °F night is as likely as not).

When does spring green-up reach Bloomington?

The USA-NPN Spring Index puts first leaf around Mar 31 and first bloom around Apr 27, on average for 1991–2020 at the town.

Where can I see fall foliage near Bloomington?

Indiana Dunes, 126 miles (usually around mid-October). Distances are straight-line.

Where can I see spring migration near Bloomington?

Port Louisa Refuge, 124 miles (local timing: April to May). 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) · USA National Phenology Network, colored leaves observations (opens in a new tab) (Sep 29)

All our sources and how we use them →