Your nature year
Gainesville, Floridathrough the year
When do frost, green-up and fall color come to Gainesville?
The USA-NPN spring index puts first leaf here around Jan 21 and first bloom around Feb 13. Expect about 274 frost-free days in Gainesville: the last spring frost usually comes around Mar 3, the first fall one around Dec 2, going by NOAA's Gainesville Regional Airport station 4.3 miles away.
We follow 3 places within 150 miles of Gainesville; the nearest lies 57 miles to the south. For a day trip, Crystal River Refuge is 57 miles off; its winter wildlife is Nov 15–Mar 31 (local timing). At some 168 feet up, Gainesville is on low ground.
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)
Gainesville's year at a glance
- Frost possible
- Frost-free, ~Mar 3 to ~Dec 2
- First leaf ~Jan 21
- First bloom ~Feb 13
- Today
Near Gainesville right now
- First fall frost usually around Dec 2 · last spring frost around Mar 3NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Gainesville Regional Airport (4.3 mi, 50% dates)~2 months
- Winter wildlife · Crystal River Refuge · 57 miLocal timing: Nov 15–Mar 31~7 weeks
Gainesville's nature year
- Jan: Spring green-upJan
- Mar: Last spring frostMar
- Winter wildlife · Crystal River RefugeNov–Mar
- Dec: First fall frostDec
Nearby, season by season
Winter wildlife
- Crystal River Refuge · 57 miLocal timing: Nov 15–Mar 31~7 weeks
- St. Marks Refuge · 113 miLocal timing: Nov 20–Dec 25~8 weeks
- Merritt Island Refuge · 121 miLocal timing: Nov 1–Apr 30~5 weeks
Frost and green-up
Last spring frost
Mar 3
Average (50% date)
First fall frost
Dec 2
About 274 days without frost between
Spring green-up
Jan 21
First bloom around Feb 13
Frost: NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at Gainesville Regional Airport (4.3 mi from Gainesville), 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 Gainesville?
On average around Dec 2, and the last spring frost around Mar 3: about 274 days without frost between. These are NOAA's 1991–2020 normals at Gainesville Regional Airport, 4.3 miles away (the day a 32 °F night is as likely as not).
When does spring green-up reach Gainesville?
The USA-NPN Spring Index puts first leaf around Jan 21 and first bloom around Feb 13, on average for 1991–2020 at the town.
Where can I see winter wildlife near Gainesville?
Crystal River Refuge, 57 miles (local timing: Nov 15–Mar 31); St. Marks Refuge, 113 miles (local timing: Nov 20–Dec 25); Merritt Island Refuge, 121 miles (local timing: Nov 1–Apr 30). 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)