Your nature year
Elk River, Minnesotathrough the year
When do frost, green-up and fall color come to Elk River?
At some 1,007 feet up, Elk River is on higher ground than most towns in the region. The USA-NPN spring index puts first leaf here around Apr 18 and first bloom around May 15. Spring takes about 4 weeks to go from leaf to bloom. At NOAA's Elk Rvr station, 2 miles away, the average first fall frost is Oct 5 and the last spring frost May 4, which leaves Elk River some 154 growing days. Mississippi River, Minneapolis–St. Paul, 34 miles from Elk River, is the nearest fall foliage spot on this site, usually at its best Sep 24–Oct 7. For wildflowers, the nearest is Minnesota Valley Refuge (38 mi, Jun 1–Aug 31 (local timing)). Within 150 miles we follow 3 places, out to Saint Croix Riverway 45 miles to the east. Statewide, Minnesota's fall color is usually well under way by mid-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)
Best this weekend nearby
- Mississippi River, Minneapolis–St. Paul · 34 mi · Fall foliage
Usually Sep 24–Oct 7
Sat Oct 3: Mostly Sunny, 65°F · Sun Oct 4: Sunny, 61°F
No report yet
Places in their own usual window that weekend; reports are the latest official ones, forecasts from the National Weather Service.
Elk River's year at a glance
- Frost possible
- Frost-free, ~May 4 to ~Oct 5
- First leaf ~Apr 18
- First bloom ~May 15
- Fall color under way ~Oct 11 (MN)
- Today
Near Elk River right now
- Fall color is usually well under way by mid-October in MinnesotaStatewide · USA-NPN volunteer observations, 2020–2025 · not a forecast~13 days
- First fall frost usually around Oct 5 · last spring frost around May 4NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Elk Rvr (2 mi, 50% dates)~7 days
- Mississippi River, Minneapolis–St. Paul · 34 mi · usually Sep 24–Oct 7Fall foliage · in its window now
- Wildflowers · Minnesota Valley Refuge · 38 miLocal timing: Jun 1–Aug 31~8 months
Elk River's nature year
- Spring green-upApr
- Last spring frostMay
- Wildflowers · Minnesota Valley RefugeJun–Aug
- Fall color (MN)Oct
- First fall frostOct
Nearby, season by season
Fall foliage
- Mississippi River, Minneapolis–St. Paul · 34 miusually Sep 24–Oct 7
- Saint Croix Riverway · 45 miStatewide: usually well under way by early October~7 days
Wildflowers
- Minnesota Valley Refuge · 38 miLocal timing: Jun 1–Aug 31~8 months
Snow in Elk River
Snow usually becomes possible around Dec 1 (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 Elk Rvr (2 mi away): 36 inches of snow in an average year, about 12.9 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
May 4
Average (50% date)
First fall frost
Oct 5
About 154 days without frost between
Spring green-up
Apr 18
First bloom around May 15
Frost: NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at Elk Rvr (2 mi from Elk River), 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 Elk River?
On average around Oct 5, and the last spring frost around May 4: about 154 days without frost between. These are NOAA's 1991–2020 normals at Elk Rvr, 2 miles away (the day a 32 °F night is as likely as not).
When does spring green-up reach Elk River?
The USA-NPN Spring Index puts first leaf around Apr 18 and first bloom around May 15, on average for 1991–2020 at the town.
Where can I see fall foliage near Elk River?
Mississippi River, Minneapolis–St. Paul, 34 miles (usually Sep 24–Oct 7); Saint Croix Riverway, 45 miles (statewide: usually well under way by early October). Distances are straight-line.
Where can I see wildflowers near Elk River?
Minnesota Valley Refuge, 38 miles (local timing: Jun 1–Aug 31). Distances are straight-line.
When does it start snowing in Elk River?
Snow usually becomes possible around Dec 1: our calculation from NOAA's daily snow chances: the first day the chance of 0.1" or more of snow reaches 10%, at Elk Rvr. An average year brings 36 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) · USA National Phenology Network, colored leaves observations (opens in a new tab) (Sep 28)