Your nature year
Charlotte, North Carolinathrough the year
Also for Concord, NC, Gastonia, NC, Rock Hill, SC, Huntersville, NC, Kannapolis, NC, Indian Trail, NC, Monroe, NC, Fort Mill, SC, Matthews, NC, Mint Hill, NC: the same nearby places.
When do frost, green-up and fall color come to Charlotte?
The town is about 674 feet above sea level. Spring green-up reaches town around Feb 16, with first blooms around Mar 23. Spring takes about 5 weeks to go from leaf to bloom. Expect about 218 frost-free days in Charlotte: the last spring frost usually comes around Mar 30, the first fall one around Nov 3, going by NOAA's Charlotte Douglas Airport station 7 miles away. For a day trip, Blue Ridge Parkway is 93 miles off; its fall foliage is usually at its best Oct 1–31. Blue Ridge Parkway (93 mi) is the pick for wildflowers, usually Apr 21–May 10. Within 150 miles we follow 5 places, out to Nantahala National Forest 138 miles to the west. Statewide, North Carolina's fall color is usually well under way by mid-October.
Updated Sep 28. 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
- Blue Ridge Parkway, North Carolina · 93 mi · Fall foliage
Usually Oct 1–31
Sat Oct 3: Chance Rain Showers, 64°F · Sun Oct 4: Rain Showers Likely, 59°F
No report yet
Places in their own usual window that weekend; reports are the latest official ones, forecasts from the National Weather Service.
Charlotte's year at a glance
- Frost possible
- Frost-free, ~Mar 30 to ~Nov 3
- First leaf ~Feb 16
- First bloom ~Mar 23
- Fall color under way ~Oct 18 (NC)
- Today
Near Charlotte right now
- Fall color is usually well under way by mid-October in North CarolinaStatewide · USA-NPN volunteer observations, 2020–2025 · not a forecast~3 weeks
- First fall frost usually around Nov 3 · last spring frost around Mar 30NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Charlotte Douglas Airport (7 mi, 50% dates)~5 weeks
- Fall foliage · Blue Ridge Parkway · 93 miusually Oct 1–31~3 days
Charlotte's nature year
- Spring green-upFeb
- Last spring frostMar
- Wildflowers · Blue Ridge ParkwayApr–May
- Synchronous fireflies · Congaree National ParkMay–Jun
- Fall color (NC)Oct
- First fall frostNov
Nearby, season by season
Fall foliage
- Blue Ridge Parkway · 93 miusually Oct 1–31~3 days
- Congaree National Park · 96 miusually Oct 21–Nov 10~3 weeks
- Pisgah National Forest · 106 miStatewide: usually well under way by mid-October~2 weeks
Synchronous fireflies
- Congaree National Park · 96 miusually May 11–Jun 20~7 months
Wildflowers
- Blue Ridge Parkway · 93 miusually Apr 21–May 10~7 months
- Pisgah National Forest · 106 miLocal timing: Mar 21–May 15~6 months
- George Washington and Jefferson · 111 miLocal timing: Mar 21–May 31~6 months
Frost and green-up
Last spring frost
Mar 30
Average (50% date)
First fall frost
Nov 3
About 218 days without frost between
Spring green-up
Feb 16
First bloom around Mar 23
Frost: NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at Charlotte Douglas Airport (7 mi from Charlotte), 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 Charlotte?
On average around Nov 3, and the last spring frost around Mar 30: about 218 days without frost between. These are NOAA's 1991–2020 normals at Charlotte Douglas Airport, 7 miles away (the day a 32 °F night is as likely as not).
When does spring green-up reach Charlotte?
The USA-NPN Spring Index puts first leaf around Feb 16 and first bloom around Mar 23, on average for 1991–2020 at the town.
Where can I see fall foliage near Charlotte?
Blue Ridge Parkway, 93 miles (usually Oct 1–31); Congaree National Park, 96 miles (usually Oct 21–Nov 10); Pisgah National Forest, 106 miles (statewide: usually well under way by mid-October). Distances are straight-line.
Where can I see synchronous fireflies near Charlotte?
Congaree National Park, 96 miles (usually May 11–Jun 20). 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 28)