Your nature year
Dayton, Ohiothrough the year
Also for Springfield, OH, Kettering, OH, Beavercreek, OH, Huber Heights, OH, Fairborn, OH, Troy, OH, Centerville, OH, Xenia, OH: the same nearby places.
When do frost, green-up and fall color come to Dayton?
The closest place we follow is Daniel Boone National Forest, 125 miles away, for fall foliage, usually well under way by late October (statewide). Daniel Boone National Forest (125 mi) is the pick for wildflowers, late March to late April (local timing).
At the Dayton Mcd weather station (0.5 mi), the average first fall frost is Oct 25 and the last spring frost Apr 18, which leaves Dayton some 190 growing days. About 4 weeks pass between first leaf and first bloom here. The USA-NPN spring index puts first leaf here around Mar 23 and first bloom around Apr 22. Head south for the closest of the 2 places we follow around Dayton.
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)
Near Dayton right now
- First fall frost usually around Oct 25 · last spring frost around Apr 18NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Dayton Mcd (0.5 mi, 50% dates)~4 weeks
- Winter wildlife · Ottawa Refuge · 136 miUsually: waterfowl numbers peak in October~1 day
Your guide around Dayton
Nearby, season by season
Fall foliage
- Daniel Boone National Forest · 125 miStatewide: usually well under way by late October~3 weeks
Spring migration
- Ottawa Refuge · 136 miLocal timing: late April to mid-May~7 months
Wildflowers
- Daniel Boone National Forest · 125 miLocal timing: late March to late April~6 months
Winter wildlife
- Ottawa Refuge · 136 miUsually: waterfowl numbers peak in October~1 day
Dayton's nature year
- Wildflowers · Daniel Boone National ForestMar–Apr
- Mar: Spring green-upMar
- Spring migration · Ottawa RefugeApr–May
- Apr: Last spring frostApr
- Oct: First fall frostOct
- Oct: Fall foliage · Daniel Boone National ForestOct
- Oct: Winter wildlife · Ottawa RefugeOct
Dayton's year at a glance
- Frost possible
- Frost-free, ~Apr 18 to ~Oct 25
- First leaf ~Mar 23
- First bloom ~Apr 22
- Today
Frost and green-up
Last spring frost
Apr 18
Average (50% date)
First fall frost
Oct 25
About 190 days without frost between
Spring green-up
Mar 23
First bloom around Apr 22
Frost: NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at Dayton Mcd (0.5 mi from Dayton), the day a 32 °F night is as likely as not. Green-up: the USA-NPN Spring Index, 1991–2020 average at the town.
Snow in Dayton
Snow usually becomes possible around Dec 28 (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 Dayton Mcd (0.5 mi away): 12 inches of snow in an average year, about 4.9 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.
Questions people ask
When is the first frost in Dayton?
On average around Oct 25, and the last spring frost around Apr 18: about 190 days without frost between. These are NOAA's 1991–2020 normals at Dayton Mcd, 0.5 miles away (the day a 32 °F night is as likely as not).
When does spring green-up reach Dayton?
The USA-NPN Spring Index puts first leaf around Mar 23 and first bloom around Apr 22, on average for 1991–2020 at the town.
Where can I see fall foliage near Dayton?
Daniel Boone National Forest, 125 miles (statewide: usually well under way by late October). Distances are straight-line.
Where can I see spring migration near Dayton?
Ottawa Refuge, 136 miles (local timing: late April to mid-May). Distances are straight-line.
When does it start snowing in Dayton?
Snow usually becomes possible around Dec 28: our calculation from NOAA's daily snow chances: the first day the chance of 0.1" or more of snow reaches 10%, at Dayton Mcd. An average year brings 12 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)