Your nature year
Fayetteville, North Carolinathrough the year
When do frost, green-up and fall color come to Fayetteville?
At some 221 feet up, Fayetteville is on low ground. The USA-NPN spring index puts first leaf here around Feb 13 and first bloom around Mar 18.
About 5 weeks pass between first leaf and first bloom here. Expect about 225 frost-free days in Fayetteville: the last spring frost usually comes around Mar 30, the first fall one around Nov 10, going by NOAA's Fayetteville (Pwc) station 6.7 miles away. Pee Dee Refuge, 63 miles from Fayetteville, is the nearest fall foliage spot on this site, Sep 1–Nov 30 (local timing). For winter wildlife, the nearest is Santee Refuge (136 mi, Nov 1–Feb 28 (local timing)). Head west for the closest of the 4 places we follow around Fayetteville. Across North Carolina, 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)
Fayetteville's year at a glance
- Frost possible
- Frost-free, ~Mar 30 to ~Nov 10
- First leaf ~Feb 13
- First bloom ~Mar 18
- Fall color under way ~Oct 18 (NC)
- Today
Near Fayetteville right now
- Fall color is usually well under way by mid-October in North CarolinaStatewide · USA-NPN volunteer observations, 2020–2025 · not a forecast~3 weeks
- First fall frost usually around Nov 10 · last spring frost around Mar 30NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Fayetteville (Pwc) (6.7 mi, 50% dates)~6 weeks
- Pee Dee Refuge · 63 mi · Local timing: Sep 1–Nov 30Fall foliage · in its window now
- Winter wildlife · Santee Refuge · 136 miLocal timing: Nov 1–Feb 28~5 weeks
Fayetteville's nature year
- Feb: Spring green-upFeb
- Mar: Last spring frostMar
- Synchronous fireflies · Congaree National ParkMay–Jun
- Oct: Fall color (NC)Oct
- Nov: First fall frostNov
- Winter wildlife · Santee RefugeNov–Feb
Nearby, season by season
Fall foliage
- Pee Dee Refuge · 63 miLocal timing: Sep 1–Nov 30
- Congaree National Park · 137 miusually Oct 21–Nov 10~3 weeks
Synchronous fireflies
- Congaree National Park · 137 miusually May 11–Jun 20~7 months
Winter wildlife
- Santee Refuge · 136 miLocal timing: Nov 1–Feb 28~5 weeks
- Pocosin Lakes Refuge · 143 miLocal timing: Nov 1–Feb 28~5 weeks
Frost and green-up
Last spring frost
Mar 30
Average (50% date)
First fall frost
Nov 10
About 225 days without frost between
Spring green-up
Feb 13
First bloom around Mar 18
Frost: NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at Fayetteville (Pwc) (6.7 mi from Fayetteville), 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 Fayetteville?
On average around Nov 10, and the last spring frost around Mar 30: about 225 days without frost between. These are NOAA's 1991–2020 normals at Fayetteville (Pwc), 6.7 miles away (the day a 32 °F night is as likely as not).
When does spring green-up reach Fayetteville?
The USA-NPN Spring Index puts first leaf around Feb 13 and first bloom around Mar 18, on average for 1991–2020 at the town.
Where can I see fall foliage near Fayetteville?
Pee Dee Refuge, 63 miles (local timing: Sep 1–Nov 30); Congaree National Park, 137 miles (usually Oct 21–Nov 10). Distances are straight-line.
Where can I see synchronous fireflies near Fayetteville?
Congaree National Park, 137 miles (usually May 11–Jun 20). 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) · USA National Phenology Network, colored leaves observations (opens in a new tab) (Sep 28)