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Your nature year

McAllen, Texasthrough the year

Also for Edinburg, TX, Mission, TX, Pharr, TX, Weslaco, TX, San Juan, TX: the same nearby places.

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

For a day trip, Santa Ana Refuge is 12 miles off; its wildlife by season is between October and December (usually). Laguna Atascosa Refuge (56 mi) is the pick for fall & winter wildlife, November, the peak month (local timing).

Frost is rare in McAllen. In the years it comes, NOAA's Mcallen station, 2.3 miles away puts it around Jan 1, with the last one gone by about Jan 9. Spring takes about 2 weeks to go from leaf to bloom. The USA-NPN spring index puts first leaf here around Jan 16 and first bloom around Feb 2. Within 150 miles we follow 3 places, out to Padre Island National Seashore 101 miles to the northeast.

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)

Beyond McAllen: Texas all-year guide →

Near McAllen right now

  • Rarely freezes: when a frost does come, it's usually around Jan 1, and the last one is gone by about Jan 9NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Mcallen (2.3 mi, 50% dates)
    Rare
  • Santa Ana Refuge · 12 mi · Usually: between October and DecemberWildlife by season · in its window now
    In season
  • Fall & winter wildlife · Laguna Atascosa Refuge · 56 miLocal timing: November, the peak month
    ~4 weeks

Nearest places to McAllen

Straight-line miles; roads are longer

Nearby, season by season

Real places within 150 miles, straight-line

Wildlife by season

Fall & winter wildlife

McAllen's nature year

From the town's own dates and its nearest places
  • Spring green-upJan
  • A rare frost, in the years one comesJan
  • Wildlife by season · Santa Ana RefugeNowOct–Dec
  • Fall & winter wildlife · Laguna Atascosa RefugeNov

McAllen's year at a glance

  • Frost possible
  • Frost-free, ~Jan 9 to ~Jan 1
  • First leaf ~Jan 16
  • First bloom ~Feb 2
  • Today

Frost and green-up

Last spring frost

Rarely freezes

When it does, the last frost is gone by about Jan 9

First fall frost

Rarely freezes

When a frost does come, usually around Jan 1

Spring green-up

Jan 16

First bloom around Feb 2

Frost: NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at Mcallen (2.3 mi from McAllen), 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 McAllen?

Rarely: McAllen seldom freezes. When a frost does come, it's usually around Jan 1, and the last one is gone by about Jan 9. These are NOAA's 1991–2020 normals at Mcallen, 2.3 miles away.

When does spring green-up reach McAllen?

The USA-NPN Spring Index puts first leaf around Jan 16 and first bloom around Feb 2, on average for 1991–2020 at the town.

Where can I see wildlife by season near McAllen?

Santa Ana Refuge, 12 miles (usually: between October and December); Padre Island National Seashore, 101 miles (at one spot: mid-June through August). Distances are straight-line.

Where can I see fall & winter wildlife near McAllen?

Laguna Atascosa Refuge, 56 miles (local timing: November, the peak month). 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)

All our sources and how we use them →