Your nature year
Kansas City, Missourithrough the year
Also for Overland Park, KS, Kansas City, KS, Olathe, KS, Independence, MO, Lee's Summit, MO, Shawnee, KS, Blue Springs, MO, Lenexa, KS, Leavenworth, KS, Leawood, KS, Liberty, MO, Raytown, MO, Gladstone, MO, Grandview, MO, Raymore, MO, Belton, MO: the same nearby places.
When do frost, green-up and fall color come to Kansas City?
For a day trip, Loess Bluffs Refuge is 75 miles off; its winter wildlife is Oct 15–Nov 30 (local timing). For spring migration, the nearest is Swan Lake Refuge (78 mi, April and May (local timing)).
At some 742 feet up, Kansas City is on low ground. Kansas City usually sees its last spring frost around Apr 4 and its first fall frost around Nov 2, a frost-free stretch of about 212 days at the nearest NOAA station, Kansas City Dwtn Airport. About 4 weeks pass between first leaf and first bloom here. The USA-NPN spring index puts first leaf here around Mar 15 and first bloom around Apr 15. Head northwest for the closest of the 3 places we follow around Kansas City.
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)
Kansas City's year at a glance
- Frost possible
- Frost-free, ~Apr 4 to ~Nov 2
- First leaf ~Mar 15
- First bloom ~Apr 15
- Today
Near Kansas City right now
- First fall frost usually around Nov 2 · last spring frost around Apr 4NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Kansas City Dwtn Airport (2.1 mi, 50% dates)~5 weeks
- Winter wildlife · Loess Bluffs Refuge · 75 miLocal timing: Oct 15–Nov 30~2 weeks
Kansas City's nature year
- Mar: Spring green-upMar
- Spring migration · Swan Lake RefugeApr–May
- Apr: Last spring frostApr
- Winter wildlife · Loess Bluffs RefugeOct–Nov
- Nov: First fall frostNov
Nearby, season by season
Spring migration
- Swan Lake Refuge · 78 miLocal timing: April and May~6 months
Winter wildlife
- Loess Bluffs Refuge · 75 miLocal timing: Oct 15–Nov 30~2 weeks
- Flint Hills Refuge · 95 miLocal timing: their peak numbers occurring in November~5 weeks
Frost and green-up
Last spring frost
Apr 4
Average (50% date)
First fall frost
Nov 2
About 212 days without frost between
Spring green-up
Mar 15
First bloom around Apr 15
Frost: NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at Kansas City Dwtn Airport (2.1 mi from Kansas 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 Kansas City?
On average around Nov 2, and the last spring frost around Apr 4: about 212 days without frost between. These are NOAA's 1991–2020 normals at Kansas City Dwtn Airport, 2.1 miles away (the day a 32 °F night is as likely as not).
When does spring green-up reach Kansas 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 Kansas City?
Swan Lake Refuge, 78 miles (local timing: April and May). Distances are straight-line.
Where can I see winter wildlife near Kansas City?
Loess Bluffs Refuge, 75 miles (local timing: Oct 15–Nov 30); Flint Hills Refuge, 95 miles (local timing: their peak numbers occurring 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)