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Your nature year

El Paso, Texasthrough the year

When do frost, green-up and fall color come to El Paso?

Spring green-up reaches town around Feb 4, with first blooms around Mar 7. Expect about 263 frost-free days in El Paso: the last spring frost usually comes around Mar 2, the first fall one around Nov 20, going by NOAA's El Paso International Airport station 4 miles away.

Within 150 miles we follow 3 places, out to Bosque del Apache Refuge 138 miles to the north. For a day trip, White Sands is 66 miles off; its wildflowers is from around mid-April, with more flowers joining in mid-May (local timing). For fall foliage, the nearest is Guadalupe Mountains (99 mi, usually Oct 25–Nov 7). El Paso sits at about 3,891 feet.

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)

El Paso's year at a glance

  • Frost possible
  • Frost-free, ~Mar 2 to ~Nov 20
  • First leaf ~Feb 4
  • First bloom ~Mar 7
  • Today

Near El Paso right now

  • First fall frost usually around Nov 20 · last spring frost around Mar 2NOAA 1991–2020 normals, El Paso International Airport (4 mi, 50% dates)
    ~7 weeks
  • Winter wildlife · Bosque del Apache Refuge · 138 miLocal timing: Oct 20–Jan 31
    ~3 weeks

El Paso's nature year

From the town's own dates and its nearest places
  • Spring green-upFeb
  • Last spring frostMar
  • Wildflowers · White SandsApr–May
  • Fall foliage · Guadalupe MountainsOct–Nov
  • Winter wildlife · Bosque del Apache RefugeOct–Jan
  • First fall frostNov

Nearby, season by season

Real places within 150 miles, straight-line

Fall foliage

Wildflowers

  • White Sands · 66 miLocal timing: from around mid-April, with more flowers joining in mid-May
    ~7 months

Winter wildlife

Frost and green-up

Last spring frost

Mar 2

Average (50% date)

First fall frost

Nov 20

About 263 days without frost between

Spring green-up

Feb 4

First bloom around Mar 7

Frost: NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at El Paso International Airport (4 mi from El Paso), 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 El Paso?

On average around Nov 20, and the last spring frost around Mar 2: about 263 days without frost between. These are NOAA's 1991–2020 normals at El Paso International Airport, 4 miles away (the day a 32 °F night is as likely as not).

When does spring green-up reach El Paso?

The USA-NPN Spring Index puts first leaf around Feb 4 and first bloom around Mar 7, on average for 1991–2020 at the town.

Where can I see fall foliage near El Paso?

Guadalupe Mountains, 99 miles (usually Oct 25–Nov 7). Distances are straight-line.

Where can I see wildflowers near El Paso?

White Sands, 66 miles (local timing: from around mid-April, with more flowers joining in mid-May). 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)

All our sources and how we use them →