Your nature year
Dover, Delawarethrough the year
Also for Bridgeton, NJ: the same nearby places.
When do frost, green-up and fall color come to Dover?
For a day trip, Bombay Hook is 7 miles off; its wildflowers is Apr 1–May 31 (local timing). Baltimore (Fort McHenry) (58 mi) is the pick for cherry blossoms, usually Mar 24–Apr 7. At roughly 20 feet, Dover is about as low as towns get. Expect about 214 frost-free days in Dover: the last spring frost usually comes around Apr 4, the first fall one around Nov 4, going by NOAA's Dover station 1.3 miles away. Spring takes about 5 weeks to go from leaf to bloom. Spring green-up reaches town around Mar 15, with first blooms around Apr 18. Within 150 miles we follow 15 places, out to New York City 139 miles to the northeast.
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)
Dover's year at a glance
- Frost possible
- Frost-free, ~Apr 4 to ~Nov 4
- First leaf ~Mar 15
- First bloom ~Apr 18
- Today
Near Dover right now
- First fall frost usually around Nov 4 · last spring frost around Apr 4NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Dover (1.3 mi, 50% dates)~5 weeks
- Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens · 78 mi · Local timing: May 21–Sep 30Wildflowers · in its window now
- Fall foliage · Patuxent Research Refuge · 69 miusually Oct 21–31~3 weeks
Dover's nature year
- Cherry blossoms · Baltimore (Fort McHenry)Mar–Apr
- Spring green-upMar
- Wildflowers · Bombay HookApr–May
- Last spring frostApr
- Tulips · Washington, DCApr
- Fall foliage · Patuxent Research RefugeOct
- First fall frostNov
Nearby, season by season
Cherry blossoms
- Baltimore (Fort McHenry) · 58 miusually Mar 24–Apr 7~6 months
- US National Arboretum · 80 miusually Mar 1–Apr 30~5 months
- Washington, DC · 84 miusually Mar 25–Apr 7~6 months
Fall foliage
- Patuxent Research Refuge · 69 miusually Oct 21–31~3 weeks
- Occoquan Bay Refuge · 99 miLocal timing: Oct 21–31~3 weeks
- Catoctin Mountain · 106 miStatewide: usually well under way by late October~4 weeks
Tulips
- Washington, DC · 84 miLocal timing: Apr 1–20~6 months
Wildflowers
- Bombay Hook · 7 miLocal timing: Apr 1–May 31~6 months
- Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens · 78 miLocal timing: May 21–Sep 30
- Catoctin Mountain · 106 miLocal timing: Apr 1–May 31~6 months
Frost and green-up
Last spring frost
Apr 4
Average (50% date)
First fall frost
Nov 4
About 214 days without frost between
Spring green-up
Mar 15
First bloom around Apr 18
Frost: NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at Dover (1.3 mi from Dover), 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 Dover?
On average around Nov 4, and the last spring frost around Apr 4: about 214 days without frost between. These are NOAA's 1991–2020 normals at Dover, 1.3 miles away (the day a 32 °F night is as likely as not).
When does spring green-up reach Dover?
The USA-NPN Spring Index puts first leaf around Mar 15 and first bloom around Apr 18, on average for 1991–2020 at the town.
Where can I see cherry blossoms near Dover?
Baltimore (Fort McHenry), 58 miles (usually Mar 24–Apr 7); US National Arboretum, 80 miles (usually Mar 1–Apr 30); Washington, DC, 84 miles (usually Mar 25–Apr 7). Distances are straight-line.
Where can I see fall foliage near Dover?
Patuxent Research Refuge, 69 miles (usually Oct 21–31); Occoquan Bay Refuge, 99 miles (local timing: Oct 21–31); Catoctin Mountain, 106 miles (statewide: usually well under way by late October). 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)