Your nature year
Frederick, Marylandthrough the year
Also for Hagerstown, MD: the same nearby places.
When do frost, green-up and fall color come to Frederick?
At the Frederick Police Brks weather station (1.8 mi), the average first fall frost is Nov 6 and the last spring frost Apr 2, which leaves Frederick some 218 growing days. Frederick sits at about 340 feet. The USA-NPN spring index puts first leaf here around Mar 19 and first bloom around Apr 20. About 5 weeks pass between first leaf and first bloom here. Head northwest for the closest of the 22 places we follow around Frederick. For a day trip, Gambrill State Park is 5 miles off; its fall foliage is usually well under way by late October (statewide). Catoctin Mountain (13 mi) is the pick for wildflowers, Apr 1–May 31 (local timing). Across Maryland, fall color is usually well under way by late 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)
Frederick's year at a glance
- Frost possible
- Frost-free, ~Apr 2 to ~Nov 6
- First leaf ~Mar 19
- First bloom ~Apr 20
- Fall color under way ~Oct 28 (MD)
- Today
Near Frederick right now
- Fall color is usually well under way by late October in MarylandStatewide · USA-NPN volunteer observations, 2020–2025 · not a forecast~4 weeks
- First fall frost usually around Nov 6 · last spring frost around Apr 2NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Frederick Police Brks (1.8 mi, 50% dates)~6 weeks
- Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens · 44 mi · Local timing: May 21–Sep 30Wildflowers · in its window now
- Fall foliage · Gambrill State Park · 5 miStatewide: usually well under way by late October~4 weeks
Frederick's nature year
- Cherry blossoms · Washington, DCMar–Apr
- Spring green-upMar
- Wildflowers · Catoctin MountainApr–May
- Last spring frostApr
- Tulips · Washington, DCApr
- Fall color (MD)Oct
- First fall frostNov
Nearby, season by season
Cherry blossoms
- Washington, DC · 43 miusually Mar 25–Apr 7~6 months
- US National Arboretum · 43 miusually Mar 1–Apr 30~5 months
- Baltimore (Fort McHenry) · 45 miusually Mar 24–Apr 7~6 months
Fall foliage
- Gambrill State Park · 5 miStatewide: usually well under way by late October~4 weeks
- Catoctin Mountain · 13 miStatewide: usually well under way by late October~4 weeks
- Greenbrier State Park · 14 miStatewide: usually well under way by late October~4 weeks
Tulips
- Washington, DC · 43 miLocal timing: Apr 1–20~6 months
Wildflowers
- Catoctin Mountain · 13 miLocal timing: Apr 1–May 31~6 months
- Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens · 44 miLocal timing: May 21–Sep 30
- Shenandoah · 84 miLocal timing: Mar 21–Jun 30~6 months
Frost and green-up
Last spring frost
Apr 2
Average (50% date)
First fall frost
Nov 6
About 218 days without frost between
Spring green-up
Mar 19
First bloom around Apr 20
Frost: NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at Frederick Police Brks (1.8 mi from Frederick), 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 Frederick?
On average around Nov 6, and the last spring frost around Apr 2: about 218 days without frost between. These are NOAA's 1991–2020 normals at Frederick Police Brks, 1.8 miles away (the day a 32 °F night is as likely as not).
When does spring green-up reach Frederick?
The USA-NPN Spring Index puts first leaf around Mar 19 and first bloom around Apr 20, on average for 1991–2020 at the town.
Where can I see cherry blossoms near Frederick?
Washington, DC, 43 miles (usually Mar 25–Apr 7); US National Arboretum, 43 miles (usually Mar 1–Apr 30); Baltimore (Fort McHenry), 45 miles (usually Mar 24–Apr 7). Distances are straight-line.
Where can I see fall foliage near Frederick?
Gambrill State Park, 5 miles (statewide: usually well under way by late October); Catoctin Mountain, 13 miles (statewide: usually well under way by late October); Greenbrier State Park, 14 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) · USA National Phenology Network, colored leaves observations (opens in a new tab) (Sep 28)