Your nature year
Memphis, Tennesseethrough the year
Also for Southaven, MS, Bartlett, TN, Collierville, TN, Olive Branch, MS, Germantown, TN, Horn Lake, MS: the same nearby places.
When do frost, green-up and fall color come to Memphis?
The USA-NPN spring index puts first leaf here around Feb 17 and first bloom around Mar 22. Memphis usually sees its last spring frost around Mar 16 and its first fall frost around Nov 16, a frost-free stretch of about 245 days at the Memphis International Airport weather station (3.8 mi).
Across Tennessee, fall color is usually well under way by late October. Head southeast for the closest of the 3 places we follow around Memphis. Natchez Trace Parkway, Mississippi, 89 miles from Memphis, is the nearest fall foliage spot on this site, Oct 15–Nov 20 (local timing). Natchez Trace Parkway, Mississippi (89 mi) is the pick for wildflowers, Mar 1–May 31 (local timing). At some 315 feet up, Memphis is on low ground.
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)
Memphis's year at a glance
- Frost possible
- Frost-free, ~Mar 16 to ~Nov 16
- First leaf ~Feb 17
- First bloom ~Mar 22
- Fall color under way ~Oct 21 (TN)
- Today
Near Memphis right now
- Fall color is usually well under way by late October in TennesseeStatewide · USA-NPN volunteer observations, 2020–2025 · not a forecast~3 weeks
- First fall frost usually around Nov 16 · last spring frost around Mar 16NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Memphis International Airport (3.8 mi, 50% dates)~7 weeks
- Fall foliage · Natchez Trace Parkway, Mississippi · 89 miLocal timing: Oct 15–Nov 20~2 weeks
Memphis's nature year
- Jan: Winter wildlife · Tennessee RefugeJan
- Feb: Spring green-upFeb
- Wildflowers · Natchez Trace Parkway, MississippiMar–May
- Mar: Last spring frostMar
- Oct: Fall color (TN)Oct
- Nov: First fall frostNov
Nearby, season by season
Fall foliage
- Natchez Trace Parkway, Mississippi · 89 miLocal timing: Oct 15–Nov 20~2 weeks
- Natchez Trace Parkway · 140 miLocal timing: Oct 11–31~13 days
Wildflowers
- Natchez Trace Parkway, Mississippi · 89 miLocal timing: Mar 1–May 31~5 months
Winter wildlife
- Tennessee Refuge · 133 miLocal timing: Jan 1–10~3 months
Frost and green-up
Last spring frost
Mar 16
Average (50% date)
First fall frost
Nov 16
About 245 days without frost between
Spring green-up
Feb 17
First bloom around Mar 22
Frost: NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at Memphis International Airport (3.8 mi from Memphis), 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 Memphis?
On average around Nov 16, and the last spring frost around Mar 16: about 245 days without frost between. These are NOAA's 1991–2020 normals at Memphis International Airport, 3.8 miles away (the day a 32 °F night is as likely as not).
When does spring green-up reach Memphis?
The USA-NPN Spring Index puts first leaf around Feb 17 and first bloom around Mar 22, on average for 1991–2020 at the town.
Where can I see fall foliage near Memphis?
Natchez Trace Parkway, Mississippi, 89 miles (local timing: Oct 15–Nov 20); Natchez Trace Parkway, 140 miles (local timing: Oct 11–31). Distances are straight-line.
Where can I see wildflowers near Memphis?
Natchez Trace Parkway, Mississippi, 89 miles (local timing: Mar 1–May 31). 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) (Sep 28)