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Your nature year

Madera, Californiathrough the year

When do frost, green-up and fall color come to Madera?

The closest place we follow is Merced Refuge, 33 miles away, for fall & winter wildlife, mid-September to early March (local timing). For spring migration, the nearest is San Luis Refuge (50 mi, April (local timing)).

Madera sits at about 259 feet. At NOAA's Madera Municipal Airport station, 1.9 miles away, the average first fall frost is Nov 30 and the last spring frost Feb 12, which leaves Madera some 291 growing days. About 4 weeks pass between first leaf and first bloom here. Leaves usually come out around Feb 2 and the first flowers around Mar 4. Within 150 miles we follow 11 places, out to Golden Gate 145 miles to the northwest. Statewide, California's fall color is usually well under way by late October.

Updated Oct 2. 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)

Beyond Madera: California all-year guide →

Near Madera right now

  • Fall color is usually well under way by late October in CaliforniaStatewide · USA-NPN volunteer observations, 2020–2025 · not a forecast
    ~4 weeks
  • First fall frost usually around Nov 30 · last spring frost around Feb 12NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Madera Municipal Airport (1.9 mi, 50% dates)
    ~8 weeks
  • Kaiser Pass Road · 57 mi · Local timing: from the end of September until late NovemberFall foliage · in its window now
    In season
  • Golden Gate · 145 mi · At one spot: September and October, 10 am to 2 pmWildlife by season · in its window now
    In season
  • Desert superbloom · Carrizo Plain · 132 miUsually: late March to early April
    ~6 months

Your guide around Madera

Nearest places we cover
  • Spring
  • Fall
  • Winter
Places on this map, as a list
Map: approximate positions; state lines US Census.

Nearby, season by season

Real places within 150 miles, straight-line

Fall foliage

  • Yosemite · 57 miusually late October
    ~9 days
  • Kaiser Pass Road · 57 miLocal timing: from the end of September until late November
    In season

Spring migration

Spring waterfalls

  • Yosemite · 57 miUsually: May or June
    ~7 months

Desert superbloom

  • Carrizo Plain · 132 miUsually: late March to early April
    ~6 months

Wildflowers

  • San Luis Refuge · 50 miLocal timing: April
    ~6 months
  • Yosemite · 57 miLocal timing: March at the park's west edge to late August in the high country
    ~5 months
  • Pinnacles · 58 miusually March through May
    ~5 months

Wildlife by season

  • Golden Gate · 145 miAt one spot: September and October, 10 am to 2 pm
    In season

Fall & winter wildlife

Madera's nature year

From the town's own dates and its nearest places
  • Spring green-upFeb
  • Last spring frostFeb
  • Desert superbloom · Carrizo PlainMar–Apr
  • Spring migration · San Luis RefugeApr
  • Wildflowers · San Luis RefugeApr
  • Spring waterfalls · YosemiteMay–Jun
  • Wildlife by season · Golden GateNowSep–Oct
  • Fall & winter wildlife · Merced RefugeNowSep–Mar
  • Fall color (CA)NowOct
  • First fall frostNov

Madera's year at a glance

  • Frost possible
  • Frost-free, ~Feb 12 to ~Nov 30
  • First leaf ~Feb 2
  • First bloom ~Mar 4
  • Fall color under way ~Oct 28 (CA)
  • Today

Frost and green-up

Last spring frost

Feb 12

Average (50% date)

First fall frost

Nov 30

About 291 days without frost between

Spring green-up

Feb 2

First bloom around Mar 4

Frost: NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at Madera Municipal Airport (1.9 mi from Madera), 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 Madera?

On average around Nov 30, and the last spring frost around Feb 12: about 291 days without frost between. These are NOAA's 1991–2020 normals at Madera Municipal Airport, 1.9 miles away (the day a 32 °F night is as likely as not).

When does spring green-up reach Madera?

The USA-NPN Spring Index puts first leaf around Feb 2 and first bloom around Mar 4, on average for 1991–2020 at the town.

Where can I see fall foliage near Madera?

Yosemite, 57 miles (usually late October); Kaiser Pass Road, 57 miles (local timing: from the end of September until late November). Distances are straight-line.

Where can I see spring migration near Madera?

San Luis Refuge, 50 miles (local timing: April). 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) (Oct 2)

All our sources and how we use them →