Your nature year
Gilbert, Arizonathrough the year
Also for Queen Creek, AZ, Apache Junction, AZ: the same nearby places.
When do frost, green-up and fall color come to Gilbert?
The closest place we follow is Saguaro, 80 miles away, for wildflowers, often best mid-late March (local timing). For fall foliage, the nearest is San Francisco Peaks (135 mi, usually Oct 1–31).
The town is about 1,279 feet above sea level. At NOAA's Chandler Heights station, 8 miles away, the average first fall frost is Dec 11 and the last spring frost Feb 1, which leaves Gilbert some 313 growing days. About 3 weeks pass between first leaf and first bloom here. Spring green-up reaches town around Jan 24, with first blooms around Feb 16. Within 150 miles we follow 3 places, out to San Francisco Peaks 135 miles to the north. Across Arizona, fall color is usually well under way by late October.
Updated Sep 29. 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
- San Francisco Peaks · 135 mi · Fall foliage
Usually Oct 1–31
Sat Oct 3: Sunny, 70°F · Sun Oct 4: Sunny, 69°F
No report yet
Places in their own usual window that weekend; reports are the latest official ones, forecasts from the National Weather Service.
Gilbert's year at a glance
- Frost possible
- Frost-free, ~Feb 1 to ~Dec 11
- First leaf ~Jan 24
- First bloom ~Feb 16
- Fall color under way ~Oct 30 (AZ)
- Today
Near Gilbert right now
- Fall color is usually well under way by late October in ArizonaStatewide · USA-NPN volunteer observations, 2020–2025 · not a forecast~4 weeks
- First fall frost usually around Dec 11 · last spring frost around Feb 1NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Chandler Heights (8 mi, 50% dates)~2 months
- Fall foliage · San Francisco Peaks · 135 miusually Oct 1–31~2 days
Gilbert's nature year
- Jan: Spring green-upJan
- Feb: Last spring frostFeb
- Mar: Wildflowers · SaguaroMar
- Oct: Fall color (AZ)Oct
- Dec: First fall frostDec
Nearby, season by season
Fall foliage
- San Francisco Peaks · 135 miusually Oct 1–31~2 days
Wildflowers
- Saguaro · 80 miLocal timing: often best mid-late March~5 months
- Organ Pipe Cactus · 112 miLocal timing: between February and April~4 months
Frost and green-up
Last spring frost
Feb 1
Average (50% date)
First fall frost
Dec 11
About 313 days without frost between
Spring green-up
Jan 24
First bloom around Feb 16
Frost: NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at Chandler Heights (8 mi from Gilbert), 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 Gilbert?
On average around Dec 11, and the last spring frost around Feb 1: about 313 days without frost between. These are NOAA's 1991–2020 normals at Chandler Heights, 8 miles away (the day a 32 °F night is as likely as not).
When does spring green-up reach Gilbert?
The USA-NPN Spring Index puts first leaf around Jan 24 and first bloom around Feb 16, on average for 1991–2020 at the town.
Where can I see fall foliage near Gilbert?
San Francisco Peaks, 135 miles (usually Oct 1–31). Distances are straight-line.
Where can I see wildflowers near Gilbert?
Saguaro, 80 miles (local timing: often best mid-late March); Organ Pipe Cactus, 112 miles (local timing: between February and April). 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 29)