Your nature year
Grand Rapids, Michiganthrough the year
Also for Wyoming, MI, Kentwood, MI, Walker, MI: the same nearby places.
When do frost, green-up and fall color come to Grand Rapids?
Leaves usually come out around Apr 13 and the first flowers around May 13. Frost usually lets go around May 6 and comes back around Oct 10, according to the E Grand Rapids weather station (2.7 mi): roughly 157 days without it.
Within 150 miles we follow 3 places, out to Detroit River Refuge 139 miles to the southeast. The closest place we follow is Shiawassee Refuge, 89 miles away, for fall foliage, the second or third week of October (usually). For spring migration, the nearest is Shiawassee Refuge (89 mi, April and May are the best months to see spring migratory birds (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 Grand Rapids right now
- First fall frost usually around Oct 10 · last spring frost around May 6NOAA 1991–2020 normals, E Grand Rapids (2.7 mi, 50% dates)~8 days
- Shiawassee Refuge · 89 mi · Local timing: September and October are the best months for fall migratory birdsFall & winter wildlife · in its window nowIn season
- Fall foliage · Shiawassee Refuge · 89 miUsually: the second or third week of October~6 days
Nearest places to Grand Rapids
- Shiawassee RefugeWildlife refugeUsually: the second or third week of October89 mi
Nearby, season by season
Fall foliage
Spring migration
Spring migrant birds in MichiganWildlife refuge
89 mi
Best viewing: April and MayU.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ↗
Wildflowers
Wildflowers in IndianaNational park
118 mi
Usual peak: Late April through mid-MayNational Park Service ↗
Fall & winter wildlife
Fall migrant birds in MichiganWildlife refuge
89 mi
Best viewing: September and OctoberU.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ↗
Winter waterfowl on the river in MichiganWildlife refuge
139 mi
Season: WinterU.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ↗
Grand Rapids's nature year
- Spring migration · Shiawassee RefugeApr–May
- Wildflowers · Indiana DunesApr–May
- Apr: Spring green-upApr
- May: Last spring frostMay
- Fall & winter wildlife · Shiawassee RefugeNowSep–Oct
- Oct: First fall frostNowOct
- Oct: Fall foliage · Shiawassee RefugeNowOct
Grand Rapids's year at a glance
- Frost possible
- Frost-free, ~May 6 to ~Oct 10
- First leaf ~Apr 13
- First bloom ~May 13
- Today
Frost and green-up
Last spring frost
May 6
Average (50% date)
First fall frost
Oct 10
About 157 days without frost between
Spring green-up
Apr 13
First bloom around May 13
Frost: NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at E Grand Rapids (2.7 mi from Grand Rapids), the day a 32 °F night is as likely as not. Green-up: the USA-NPN Spring Index, 1991–2020 average at the town.
Snow in Grand Rapids
Snow usually becomes possible around Nov 9 (our calculation from NOAA's daily snow chances: the first day the chance of 0.1" or more of snow reaches 10%). NOAA's normals at E Grand Rapids (2.7 mi away): 75 inches of snow in an average year, about 24.7 days with 1 inch or more.
NOAA's chance of at least 0.1 inch of snow on each date (one value per week, September to May), averaged over 1991–2020. A typical year, not a forecast.
Questions people ask
When is the first frost in Grand Rapids?
On average around Oct 10, and the last spring frost around May 6: about 157 days without frost between. These are NOAA's 1991–2020 normals at E Grand Rapids, 2.7 miles away (the day a 32 °F night is as likely as not).
When does spring green-up reach Grand Rapids?
The USA-NPN Spring Index puts first leaf around Apr 13 and first bloom around May 13, on average for 1991–2020 at the town.
Where can I see fall foliage near Grand Rapids?
Shiawassee Refuge, 89 miles (usually: the second or third week of October); Indiana Dunes, 118 miles (usually around mid-October). Distances are straight-line.
Where can I see spring migration near Grand Rapids?
Shiawassee Refuge, 89 miles (local timing: April and May are the best months to see spring migratory birds). Distances are straight-line.
When does it start snowing in Grand Rapids?
Snow usually becomes possible around Nov 9: our calculation from NOAA's daily snow chances: the first day the chance of 0.1" or more of snow reaches 10%, at E Grand Rapids. An average year brings 75 inches (NOAA 1991–2020). A typical year, not a forecast.Sources: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (annual/seasonal snowfall) ↗ (opens in a new tab), NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (daily snowfall probabilities) ↗ (opens in a new tab)
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)