Your nature year
Merced, Californiathrough the year
Also for Atwater, CA: the same nearby places.
When do frost, green-up and fall color come to Merced?
Within 150 miles we follow 6 places, out to Point Reyes 146 miles to the west. The closest place we follow is San Luis Refuge, 23 miles away, for wildflowers, Apr 1–30 (local timing). For fall foliage, the nearest is Yosemite (52 mi, usually Oct 11–31). At the Merced weather station (2.4 mi), the average first fall frost is Nov 24 and the last spring frost Mar 3, which leaves Merced some 266 growing days. Spring green-up reaches town around Feb 1, with first blooms around Mar 4. Across California, 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)
Merced's year at a glance
- Frost possible
- Frost-free, ~Mar 3 to ~Nov 24
- First leaf ~Feb 1
- First bloom ~Mar 4
- Fall color under way ~Oct 28 (CA)
- Today
Near Merced 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 24 · last spring frost around Mar 3NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Merced (2.4 mi, 50% dates)~8 weeks
- Kaiser Pass Road · 75 mi · Local timing: Sep 25–Nov 30Fall foliage · in its window now
- Wildflowers · San Luis Refuge · 23 miLocal timing: Apr 1–30~6 months
Merced's nature year
- Spring green-upFeb
- Last spring frostMar
- Wildflowers · San Luis RefugeApr
- Fall color (CA)Oct
- First fall frostNov
Nearby, season by season
Fall foliage
- Yosemite · 52 miusually Oct 11–31~13 days
- Kaiser Pass Road · 75 miLocal timing: Sep 25–Nov 30
Wildflowers
- San Luis Refuge · 23 miLocal timing: Apr 1–30~6 months
- San Joaquin River Refuge · 50 miLocal timing: Apr 1–30~6 months
- Yosemite · 52 miLocal timing: Mar 1–Aug 31~5 months
Frost and green-up
Last spring frost
Mar 3
Average (50% date)
First fall frost
Nov 24
About 266 days without frost between
Spring green-up
Feb 1
First bloom around Mar 4
Frost: NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at Merced (2.4 mi from Merced), 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 Merced?
On average around Nov 24, and the last spring frost around Mar 3: about 266 days without frost between. These are NOAA's 1991–2020 normals at Merced, 2.4 miles away (the day a 32 °F night is as likely as not).
When does spring green-up reach Merced?
The USA-NPN Spring Index puts first leaf around Feb 1 and first bloom around Mar 4, on average for 1991–2020 at the town.
Where can I see fall foliage near Merced?
Yosemite, 52 miles (usually Oct 11–31); Kaiser Pass Road, 75 miles (local timing: Sep 25–Nov 30). Distances are straight-line.
Where can I see wildflowers near Merced?
San Luis Refuge, 23 miles (local timing: Apr 1–30); San Joaquin River Refuge, 50 miles (local timing: Apr 1–30); Yosemite, 52 miles (local timing: Mar 1–Aug 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)