Your nature year
Columbus, Nebraskathrough the year
When do frost, green-up and fall color come to Columbus?
Columbus usually sees its last spring frost around Apr 21 and its first fall frost around Oct 15, a frost-free stretch of about 177 days at the Columbus 3 NE weather station (2.4 mi). Spring green-up reaches town around Apr 2, with first blooms around May 3.
Spring takes about 4 weeks to go from leaf to bloom. Within 150 miles we follow 2 places, out to Loess Bluffs Refuge 146 miles to the southeast. The closest place we follow is DeSoto Refuge, 69 miles away, for winter wildlife, early December, and again in late February and early March (local timing). For spring migration, the nearest is Loess Bluffs Refuge (146 mi, from mid-February, peaking in mid-March (local timing)).
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)
Columbus's year at a glance
- Frost possible
- Frost-free, ~Apr 21 to ~Oct 15
- First leaf ~Apr 2
- First bloom ~May 3
- Today
Near Columbus right now
- First fall frost usually around Oct 15 · last spring frost around Apr 21NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Columbus 3 NE (2.4 mi, 50% dates)~2 weeks
- Winter wildlife · DeSoto Refuge · 69 miLocal timing: early December, and again in late February and early March~2 months
Columbus's nature year
- Spring migration · Loess Bluffs RefugeFeb–Mar
- Apr: Spring green-upApr
- Apr: Last spring frostApr
- Oct: First fall frostOct
- Winter wildlife · DeSoto RefugeDec–Mar
Nearby, season by season
Spring migration
- Loess Bluffs Refuge · 146 miLocal timing: from mid-February, peaking in mid-March~5 months
Winter wildlife
- DeSoto Refuge · 69 miLocal timing: early December, and again in late February and early March~2 months
- Loess Bluffs Refuge · 146 miLocal timing: from mid-October, peaking in mid- to late November~2 weeks
Snow in Columbus
Snow usually becomes possible around Dec 12 (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 Columbus 3 NE (2.4 mi away): 26 inches of snow in an average year, about 8.9 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 21
Average (50% date)
First fall frost
Oct 15
About 177 days without frost between
Spring green-up
Apr 2
First bloom around May 3
Frost: NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at Columbus 3 NE (2.4 mi from Columbus), 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 Columbus?
On average around Oct 15, and the last spring frost around Apr 21: about 177 days without frost between. These are NOAA's 1991–2020 normals at Columbus 3 NE, 2.4 miles away (the day a 32 °F night is as likely as not).
When does spring green-up reach Columbus?
The USA-NPN Spring Index puts first leaf around Apr 2 and first bloom around May 3, on average for 1991–2020 at the town.
Where can I see spring migration near Columbus?
Loess Bluffs Refuge, 146 miles (local timing: from mid-February, peaking in mid-March). Distances are straight-line.
Where can I see winter wildlife near Columbus?
DeSoto Refuge, 69 miles (local timing: early December, and again in late February and early March); Loess Bluffs Refuge, 146 miles (local timing: from mid-October, peaking in mid- to late November). Distances are straight-line.
When does it start snowing in Columbus?
Snow usually becomes possible around Dec 12: our calculation from NOAA's daily snow chances: the first day the chance of 0.1" or more of snow reaches 10%, at Columbus 3 NE. An average year brings 26 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)