Your nature year
Chico, Californiathrough the year
When do frost, green-up and fall color come to Chico?
Lassen Volcanic, 53 miles from Chico, is the nearest wildflowers spot on this site, May 21–Sep 30 (local timing). For fall foliage, the nearest is Hat Creek Rim (69 mi, usually well under way by late October (statewide)). At the nearest NOAA station, Chico Univ Farm, the average first fall frost is Nov 17 and the last spring frost Mar 4, which leaves Chico some 258 growing days. Spring takes about 4 weeks to go from leaf to bloom. Leaves usually come out around Feb 1 and the first flowers around Mar 4. Head north for the closest of the 7 places we follow around Chico. Across California, fall color is usually well under way by late 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)
Chico's year at a glance
- Frost possible
- Frost-free, ~Mar 4 to ~Nov 17
- First leaf ~Feb 1
- First bloom ~Mar 4
- Fall color under way ~Oct 28 (CA)
- Today
Near Chico right now
- Fall color is usually well under way by late October in CaliforniaStatewide · USA-NPN volunteer observations, 2020–2025 · not a forecast~4 weeks
- First fall frost usually around Nov 17 · last spring frost around Mar 4NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Chico Univ Farm (4.7 mi, 50% dates)~7 weeks
- Lassen Volcanic · 53 mi · Local timing: May 21–Sep 30Wildflowers · in its window now
- Fall foliage · Hat Creek Rim · 69 miStatewide: usually well under way by late October~4 weeks
Chico's nature year
- Spring green-upFeb
- Last spring frostMar
- Wildflowers · Lassen VolcanicNowMay–Sep
- Fall color (CA)Oct
- First fall frostNov
Nearby, season by season
Fall foliage
- Hat Creek Rim · 69 miStatewide: usually well under way by late October~4 weeks
- Mount Shasta · 110 miStatewide: usually well under way by late October~4 weeks
Wildflowers
- Lassen Volcanic · 53 miLocal timing: May 21–Sep 30
- Whiskeytown · 72 miLocal timing: Apr 1–Aug 31~6 months
- Point Reyes · 137 miLocal timing: Feb 1–Aug 31~4 months
Frost and green-up
Last spring frost
Mar 4
Average (50% date)
First fall frost
Nov 17
About 258 days without frost between
Spring green-up
Feb 1
First bloom around Mar 4
Frost: NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at Chico Univ Farm (4.7 mi from Chico), 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 Chico?
On average around Nov 17, and the last spring frost around Mar 4: about 258 days without frost between. These are NOAA's 1991–2020 normals at Chico Univ Farm, 4.7 miles away (the day a 32 °F night is as likely as not).
When does spring green-up reach Chico?
The USA-NPN Spring Index puts first leaf around Feb 1 and first bloom around Mar 4, on average for 1991–2020 at the town.
Where can I see fall foliage near Chico?
Hat Creek Rim, 69 miles (statewide: usually well under way by late October); Mount Shasta, 110 miles (statewide: usually well under way by late October). Distances are straight-line.
Where can I see wildflowers near Chico?
Lassen Volcanic, 53 miles (local timing: May 21–Sep 30); Whiskeytown, 72 miles (local timing: Apr 1–Aug 31); Point Reyes, 137 miles (local timing: Feb 1–Aug 31). 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)