Your nature year
Houston, Texasthrough the year
Also for Pasadena, TX, Pearland, TX, Sugar Land, TX, Missouri City, TX, Friendswood, TX, La Porte, TX, Deer Park, TX: the same nearby places.
When do frost, green-up and fall color come to Houston?
At the nearest NOAA station, Houston-Port, the average first fall frost is Dec 25 and the last spring frost Feb 2, which leaves Houston some 326 growing days. The USA-NPN spring index puts first leaf here around Jan 22 and first bloom around Feb 14.
Spring takes about 3 weeks to go from leaf to bloom. Head northeast for the closest of the 4 places we follow around Houston. The closest place we follow is Trinity River Refuge, 43 miles away, for spring migration, during the spring (March to May) (local timing). For wildlife by season, the nearest is Attwater Prairie Chicken Refuge (53 mi, late February through early April (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)
Houston's year at a glance
- Frost possible
- Frost-free, ~Feb 2 to ~Dec 25
- First leaf ~Jan 22
- First bloom ~Feb 14
- Today
Near Houston right now
- First fall frost usually around Dec 25 · last spring frost around Feb 2NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Houston-Port (7.1 mi, 50% dates)~3 months
- Winter wildlife · Aransas Refuge · 133 miLocal timing: typically arriving in late October and departing by mid-April~3 weeks
Houston's nature year
- Jan: Spring green-upJan
- Wildlife by season · Attwater Prairie Chicken RefugeFeb–Apr
- Feb: Last spring frostFeb
- Spring migration · Trinity River RefugeMar–May
- Wildflowers · Big Thicket National PreserveMar–Apr
- Winter wildlife · Aransas RefugeOct–Apr
- Fall foliage · Big Thicket National PreserveNov–Dec
- Dec: First fall frostDec
Nearby, season by season
Fall foliage
- Big Thicket National Preserve · 76 miusually late November through early December~8 weeks
Spring migration
- Trinity River Refuge · 43 miLocal timing: during the spring (March to May)~5 months
Wildflowers
- Big Thicket National Preserve · 76 miAt one spot: late March and April~6 months
Wildlife by season
- Attwater Prairie Chicken Refuge · 53 miLocal timing: late February through early April~5 months
Winter wildlife
- Aransas Refuge · 133 miLocal timing: typically arriving in late October and departing by mid-April~3 weeks
Frost and green-up
Last spring frost
Feb 2
Average (50% date)
First fall frost
Dec 25
About 326 days without frost between
Spring green-up
Jan 22
First bloom around Feb 14
Frost: NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at Houston-Port (7.1 mi from Houston), 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 Houston?
On average around Dec 25, and the last spring frost around Feb 2: about 326 days without frost between. These are NOAA's 1991–2020 normals at Houston-Port, 7.1 miles away (the day a 32 °F night is as likely as not).
When does spring green-up reach Houston?
The USA-NPN Spring Index puts first leaf around Jan 22 and first bloom around Feb 14, on average for 1991–2020 at the town.
Where can I see fall foliage near Houston?
Big Thicket National Preserve, 76 miles (usually late November through early December). Distances are straight-line.
Where can I see spring migration near Houston?
Trinity River Refuge, 43 miles (local timing: during the spring (March to May)). 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)