Your nature year
Kalamazoo, Michiganthrough the year
Also for Battle Creek, MI, Portage, MI: the same nearby places.
When do frost, green-up and fall color come to Kalamazoo?
Indiana Dunes, 89 miles from Kalamazoo, is the nearest fall foliage spot on this site, usually at its best around mid-October. Indiana Dunes (89 mi) is the pick for wildflowers, Most years, the wildflowers peak from late April through mid-May (usually).
Expect about 173 frost-free days in Kalamazoo: the last spring frost usually comes around Apr 28, the first fall one around Oct 18, going by NOAA's Kalamazoo Battle Creek International Airport station 3.9 miles away. Spring takes about 4 weeks to go from leaf to bloom. Leaves usually come out around Apr 8 and the first flowers around May 7. Within 150 miles we follow 3 places, out to Ottawa Refuge 131 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 Kalamazoo right now
- First fall frost usually around Oct 18 · last spring frost around Apr 28NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Kalamazoo Battle Creek International Airport (3.9 mi, 50% dates)~3 weeks
- Shiawassee Refuge · 109 mi · Local timing: September and October are the best months for fall migratory birdsWinter wildlife · in its window now
- Fall foliage · Indiana Dunes · 89 miusually around mid-October~11 days
Your guide around Kalamazoo
Nearby, season by season
Fall foliage
- Indiana Dunes · 89 miusually around mid-October~11 days
- Shiawassee Refuge · 109 miUsually: usually the second or third week of October~8 days
Spring migration
- Shiawassee Refuge · 109 miLocal timing: April and May are the best months to see spring migratory birds~6 months
- Ottawa Refuge · 131 miLocal timing: late April to mid-May~7 months
Wildflowers
- Indiana Dunes · 89 miUsually: Most years, the wildflowers peak from late April through mid-May~7 months
Winter wildlife
- Shiawassee Refuge · 109 miLocal timing: September and October are the best months for fall migratory birds
- Ottawa Refuge · 131 miUsually: waterfowl numbers peak in October~1 day
Kalamazoo's nature year
- Spring migration · Shiawassee RefugeApr–May
- Wildflowers · Indiana DunesApr–May
- Apr: Spring green-upApr
- Apr: Last spring frostApr
- Winter wildlife · Shiawassee RefugeNowSep–Oct
- Oct: First fall frostOct
- Oct: Fall foliage · Indiana DunesOct
Kalamazoo's year at a glance
- Frost possible
- Frost-free, ~Apr 28 to ~Oct 18
- First leaf ~Apr 8
- First bloom ~May 7
- Today
Frost and green-up
Last spring frost
Apr 28
Average (50% date)
First fall frost
Oct 18
About 173 days without frost between
Spring green-up
Apr 8
First bloom around May 7
Frost: NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at Kalamazoo Battle Creek International Airport (3.9 mi from Kalamazoo), 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 Kalamazoo?
On average around Oct 18, and the last spring frost around Apr 28: about 173 days without frost between. These are NOAA's 1991–2020 normals at Kalamazoo Battle Creek International Airport, 3.9 miles away (the day a 32 °F night is as likely as not).
When does spring green-up reach Kalamazoo?
The USA-NPN Spring Index puts first leaf around Apr 8 and first bloom around May 7, on average for 1991–2020 at the town.
Where can I see fall foliage near Kalamazoo?
Indiana Dunes, 89 miles (usually around mid-October); Shiawassee Refuge, 109 miles (usually: usually the second or third week of October). Distances are straight-line.
Where can I see spring migration near Kalamazoo?
Shiawassee Refuge, 109 miles (local timing: April and May are the best months to see spring migratory birds); Ottawa Refuge, 131 miles (local timing: late April to mid-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)