Your nature year
Jefferson City, Missourithrough the year
When do frost, green-up and fall color come to Jefferson City?
Leaves usually come out around Mar 15 and the first flowers around Apr 15. Spring takes about 4 weeks to go from leaf to bloom.
Frost usually lets go around Apr 8 and comes back around Oct 31, according to the Jefferson City Wtp weather station (1.3 mi): roughly 206 days without it. For a day trip, Swan Lake Refuge is 92 miles off; its spring migration is April and May (local timing). For winter wildlife, the nearest is Two Rivers Refuge (92 mi, usually begin to arrive in October (local timing)). We follow 3 places within 150 miles of Jefferson City; the nearest lies 92 miles to the east.
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 Jefferson City right now
- First fall frost usually around Oct 31 · last spring frost around Apr 8NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Jefferson City Wtp (1.3 mi, 50% dates)~4 weeks
- Winter wildlife · Two Rivers Refuge · 92 miLocal timing: usually begin to arrive in October~1 day
Your guide around Jefferson City
Nearby, season by season
Spring migration
- Swan Lake Refuge · 92 miLocal timing: April and May~6 months
Winter wildlife
- Two Rivers Refuge · 92 miLocal timing: usually begin to arrive in October~1 day
- Meredosia Refuge · 124 miUsually: migration typically peaks in November~5 weeks
Jefferson City's nature year
- Mar: Spring green-upMar
- Spring migration · Swan Lake RefugeApr–May
- Apr: Last spring frostApr
- Oct: First fall frostOct
- Oct: Winter wildlife · Two Rivers RefugeOct
Jefferson City's year at a glance
- Frost possible
- Frost-free, ~Apr 8 to ~Oct 31
- First leaf ~Mar 15
- First bloom ~Apr 15
- Today
Frost and green-up
Last spring frost
Apr 8
Average (50% date)
First fall frost
Oct 31
About 206 days without frost between
Spring green-up
Mar 15
First bloom around Apr 15
Frost: NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at Jefferson City Wtp (1.3 mi from Jefferson City), 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 Jefferson City?
On average around Oct 31, and the last spring frost around Apr 8: about 206 days without frost between. These are NOAA's 1991–2020 normals at Jefferson City Wtp, 1.3 miles away (the day a 32 °F night is as likely as not).
When does spring green-up reach Jefferson City?
The USA-NPN Spring Index puts first leaf around Mar 15 and first bloom around Apr 15, on average for 1991–2020 at the town.
Where can I see spring migration near Jefferson City?
Swan Lake Refuge, 92 miles (local timing: April and May). Distances are straight-line.
Where can I see winter wildlife near Jefferson City?
Two Rivers Refuge, 92 miles (local timing: usually begin to arrive in October); Meredosia Refuge, 124 miles (usually: migration typically peaks in November). 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)