Your nature year
Hickory, North Carolinathrough the year
When do frost, green-up and fall color come to Hickory?
The USA-NPN spring index puts first leaf here around Feb 23 and first bloom around Apr 1. Frost usually lets go around Mar 31 and comes back around Nov 4, according to NOAA's Hickory FAA Airport station, 3.5 miles away: roughly 218 days without it. Statewide, North Carolina's fall color is usually well under way by mid-October. Within 150 miles we follow 7 places, out to Cumberland Gap 147 miles to the northwest. Blue Ridge Parkway, 59 miles from Hickory, is the nearest fall foliage spot on this site, usually at its best Oct 1–31. For wildflowers, the nearest is Blue Ridge Parkway (59 mi, usually Apr 21–May 10). The town is about 1,178 feet above sea level.
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)
Best this weekend nearby
- Blue Ridge Parkway, North Carolina · 59 mi · Fall foliage
Usually Oct 1–31
Sat Oct 3: Chance Rain Showers, 64°F · Sun Oct 4: Rain Showers Likely, 59°F
No report yet - Great Smoky Mountains, Tennessee · 123 mi · Fall foliage
Usually Oct 1–Nov 10
Sat Oct 3: Chance Rain Showers, 75°F · Sun Oct 4: Showers And Thunderstorms Likely, 70°F
No report yet
Places in their own usual window that weekend; reports are the latest official ones, forecasts from the National Weather Service. 1 more nearby place has only regional or statewide timing, so it isn't listed.
Hickory's year at a glance
- Frost possible
- Frost-free, ~Mar 31 to ~Nov 4
- First leaf ~Feb 23
- First bloom ~Apr 1
- Fall color under way ~Oct 18 (NC)
- Today
Near Hickory right now
- Fall color is usually well under way by mid-October in North CarolinaStatewide · USA-NPN volunteer observations, 2020–2025 · not a forecast~3 weeks
- First fall frost usually around Nov 4 · last spring frost around Mar 31NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Hickory FAA Airport (3.5 mi, 50% dates)~5 weeks
- Fall foliage · Blue Ridge Parkway · 59 miusually Oct 1–31~3 days
Hickory's nature year
- Spring green-upFeb
- Last spring frostMar
- Wildflowers · Blue Ridge ParkwayApr–May
- Synchronous fireflies · Great Smoky MountainsMay–Jun
- Fall color (NC)Oct
- First fall frostNov
Nearby, season by season
Fall foliage
- Blue Ridge Parkway · 59 miusually Oct 1–31~3 days
- George Washington and Jefferson · 67 miusually Oct 11–31~13 days
- Pisgah National Forest · 85 miStatewide: usually well under way by mid-October~2 weeks
Synchronous fireflies
- Great Smoky Mountains · 123 miusually May 21–Jun 10~8 months
- Congaree National Park · 136 miusually May 11–Jun 20~7 months
Wildflowers
- Blue Ridge Parkway · 59 miusually Apr 21–May 10~7 months
- George Washington and Jefferson · 67 miLocal timing: Mar 21–May 31~6 months
- Pisgah National Forest · 85 miLocal timing: Mar 21–May 15~6 months
Frost and green-up
Last spring frost
Mar 31
Average (50% date)
First fall frost
Nov 4
About 218 days without frost between
Spring green-up
Feb 23
First bloom around Apr 1
Frost: NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at Hickory FAA Airport (3.5 mi from Hickory), 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 Hickory?
On average around Nov 4, and the last spring frost around Mar 31: about 218 days without frost between. These are NOAA's 1991–2020 normals at Hickory FAA Airport, 3.5 miles away (the day a 32 °F night is as likely as not).
When does spring green-up reach Hickory?
The USA-NPN Spring Index puts first leaf around Feb 23 and first bloom around Apr 1, on average for 1991–2020 at the town.
Where can I see fall foliage near Hickory?
Blue Ridge Parkway, 59 miles (usually Oct 1–31); George Washington and Jefferson, 67 miles (usually Oct 11–31); Pisgah National Forest, 85 miles (statewide: usually well under way by mid-October). Distances are straight-line.
Where can I see synchronous fireflies near Hickory?
Great Smoky Mountains, 123 miles (usually May 21–Jun 10); Congaree National Park, 136 miles (usually May 11–Jun 20). 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)