Your nature year
Fort Smith, Arkansasthrough the year
When do frost, green-up and fall color come to Fort Smith?
The USA-NPN spring index puts first leaf here around Feb 20 and first bloom around Mar 24. Frost usually lets go around Mar 25 and comes back around Nov 6, according to the nearest NOAA station, Ft Smith Regional Airport: roughly 226 days without it.
We follow 1 places within 150 miles of Fort Smith; the nearest lies 35 miles to the west. For a day trip, Sequoyah Refuge is 35 miles off; its wildlife by season is March – September (local timing). Sequoyah Refuge (35 mi) is the pick for fall & winter wildlife, November through January (local timing).
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 Fort Smith right now
- First fall frost usually around Nov 6 · last spring frost around Mar 25NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Ft Smith Regional Airport (1.1 mi, 50% dates)~5 weeks
- Fall & winter wildlife · Sequoyah Refuge · 35 miLocal timing: November through January~4 weeks
Nearest places to Fort Smith
- Sequoyah RefugeWildlife refugeLocal timing: March – September35 mi
Nearby, season by season
Wildlife by season
Fall & winter wildlife
Waterfowl in OklahomaWildlife refuge
35 mi
Most numerous: November through JanuaryU.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ↗
Fort Smith's nature year
- Feb: Spring green-upFeb
- Wildlife by season · Sequoyah RefugeMar–Sep
- Mar: Last spring frostMar
- Nov: First fall frostNov
- Fall & winter wildlife · Sequoyah RefugeNov–Jan
Fort Smith's year at a glance
- Frost possible
- Frost-free, ~Mar 25 to ~Nov 6
- First leaf ~Feb 20
- First bloom ~Mar 24
- Today
Frost and green-up
Last spring frost
Mar 25
Average (50% date)
First fall frost
Nov 6
About 226 days without frost between
Spring green-up
Feb 20
First bloom around Mar 24
Frost: NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at Ft Smith Regional Airport (1.1 mi from Fort Smith), 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 Fort Smith?
On average around Nov 6, and the last spring frost around Mar 25: about 226 days without frost between. These are NOAA's 1991–2020 normals at Ft Smith Regional Airport, 1.1 miles away (the day a 32 °F night is as likely as not).
When does spring green-up reach Fort Smith?
The USA-NPN Spring Index puts first leaf around Feb 20 and first bloom around Mar 24, on average for 1991–2020 at the town.
Where can I see wildlife by season near Fort Smith?
Sequoyah Refuge, 35 miles (local timing: March – September). Distances are straight-line.
Where can I see fall & winter wildlife near Fort Smith?
Sequoyah Refuge, 35 miles (local timing: November through January). 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)