Your nature year
Manassas, Virginiathrough the year
When do frost, green-up and fall color come to Manassas?
Within 150 miles we follow 17 places, out to Ohiopyle State Park 133 miles to the northwest. The closest place we follow is Occoquan Bay Refuge, 16 miles away, for fall foliage, Oct 21–31 (local timing). Washington, DC (26 mi) is the pick for cherry blossoms, usually Mar 25–Apr 7. At NOAA's Manassas station, 1.1 miles away, the average first fall frost is Oct 27 and the last spring frost Apr 12, which leaves Manassas some 198 growing days. Spring green-up reaches town around Mar 15, with first blooms around Apr 16. Manassas sits at about 279 feet. Statewide, Virginia's fall color is usually well under way by late October.
Updated Sep 28. 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)
Manassas's year at a glance
- Frost possible
- Frost-free, ~Apr 12 to ~Oct 27
- First leaf ~Mar 15
- First bloom ~Apr 16
- Fall color under way ~Oct 25 (VA)
- Today
Near Manassas right now
- Fall color is usually well under way by late October in VirginiaStatewide · USA-NPN volunteer observations, 2020–2025 · not a forecast~4 weeks
- First fall frost usually around Oct 27 · last spring frost around Apr 12NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Manassas (1.1 mi, 50% dates)~4 weeks
- Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens · 31 mi · Local timing: May 21–Sep 30Wildflowers · in its window now
- Fall foliage · Occoquan Bay Refuge · 16 miLocal timing: Oct 21–31~3 weeks
Manassas's nature year
- Cherry blossoms · Washington, DCMar–Apr
- Spring green-upMar
- Last spring frostApr
- Tulips · Washington, DCApr
- Wildflowers · Kenilworth Aquatic GardensNowMay–Sep
- Fall color (VA)Oct
- First fall frostOct
Nearby, season by season
Cherry blossoms
- Washington, DC · 26 miusually Mar 25–Apr 7~6 months
- US National Arboretum · 30 miusually Mar 1–Apr 30~5 months
- Baltimore (Fort McHenry) · 60 miusually Mar 24–Apr 7~6 months
Fall foliage
- Occoquan Bay Refuge · 16 miLocal timing: Oct 21–31~3 weeks
- Patuxent Research Refuge · 42 miusually Oct 21–31~3 weeks
- Gambrill State Park · 49 miStatewide: usually well under way by late October~4 weeks
Tulips
- Washington, DC · 26 miLocal timing: Apr 1–20~6 months
Wildflowers
- Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens · 31 miLocal timing: May 21–Sep 30
- Shenandoah · 54 miLocal timing: Mar 21–Jun 30~6 months
- Catoctin Mountain · 61 miLocal timing: Apr 1–May 31~6 months
Snow in Manassas
Snow usually becomes possible around Jan 19 (our calculation from NOAA's daily snow chances: the first day the chance of 0.1" or more of snow reaches 10%). NOAA's normals at Washington Dulles International Airport (13.1 mi away): 21 inches of snow in an average year, about 5.3 days with 1 inch or more.
NOAA's chance of at least 0.1 inch of snow on each date (one value per week, September to May), averaged over 1991–2020. A typical year, not a forecast.
Frost and green-up
Last spring frost
Apr 12
Average (50% date)
First fall frost
Oct 27
About 198 days without frost between
Spring green-up
Mar 15
First bloom around Apr 16
Frost: NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at Manassas (1.1 mi from Manassas), 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 Manassas?
On average around Oct 27, and the last spring frost around Apr 12: about 198 days without frost between. These are NOAA's 1991–2020 normals at Manassas, 1.1 miles away (the day a 32 °F night is as likely as not).
When does spring green-up reach Manassas?
The USA-NPN Spring Index puts first leaf around Mar 15 and first bloom around Apr 16, on average for 1991–2020 at the town.
Where can I see cherry blossoms near Manassas?
Washington, DC, 26 miles (usually Mar 25–Apr 7); US National Arboretum, 30 miles (usually Mar 1–Apr 30); Baltimore (Fort McHenry), 60 miles (usually Mar 24–Apr 7). Distances are straight-line.
Where can I see fall foliage near Manassas?
Occoquan Bay Refuge, 16 miles (local timing: Oct 21–31); Patuxent Research Refuge, 42 miles (usually Oct 21–31); Gambrill State Park, 49 miles (statewide: usually well under way by late October). Distances are straight-line.
When does it start snowing in Manassas?
Snow usually becomes possible around Jan 19: our calculation from NOAA's daily snow chances: the first day the chance of 0.1" or more of snow reaches 10%, at Washington Dulles International Airport. An average year brings 21 inches (NOAA 1991–2020). A typical year, not a forecast.Sources: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (annual/seasonal snowfall) ↗ (opens in a new tab), NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (daily snowfall probabilities) ↗ (opens in a new tab)
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) (Sep 28)