Your nature year
Norfolk, Virginiathrough the year
Also for Newport News, VA, Hampton, VA, Portsmouth, VA: the same nearby places.
When do frost, green-up and fall color come to Norfolk?
The USA-NPN spring index puts first leaf here around Feb 16 and first bloom around Mar 27. At the nearest NOAA station, Norfolk Nas, the average first fall frost is Nov 26 and the last spring frost Mar 16, which leaves Norfolk some 255 growing days. Across Virginia, fall color is usually well under way by late October. Within 150 miles we follow 6 places, out to Patuxent Research Refuge 149 miles to the north. For a day trip, Great Dismal Swamp Refuge is 25 miles off; its fall foliage is Oct 21–31 (local timing). For cherry blossoms, the nearest is Washington, DC (142 mi, usually Mar 25–Apr 7).
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)
Norfolk's year at a glance
- Frost possible
- Frost-free, ~Mar 16 to ~Nov 26
- First leaf ~Feb 16
- First bloom ~Mar 27
- Fall color under way ~Oct 25 (VA)
- Today
Near Norfolk 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 Nov 26 · last spring frost around Mar 16NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Norfolk Nas (2.7 mi, 50% dates)~8 weeks
- Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens · 142 mi · Local timing: May 21–Sep 30Wildflowers · in its window now
- Fall foliage · Great Dismal Swamp Refuge · 25 miLocal timing: Oct 21–31~3 weeks
Norfolk's nature year
- Spring green-upFeb
- Cherry blossoms · Washington, DCMar–Apr
- Last spring frostMar
- Tulips · Washington, DCApr
- Wildflowers · Kenilworth Aquatic GardensNowMay–Sep
- Fall color (VA)Oct
- First fall frostNov
Nearby, season by season
Cherry blossoms
- Washington, DC · 142 miusually Mar 25–Apr 7~6 months
- US National Arboretum · 143 miusually Mar 1–Apr 30~5 months
Fall foliage
- Great Dismal Swamp Refuge · 25 miLocal timing: Oct 21–31~3 weeks
- Occoquan Bay Refuge · 129 miLocal timing: Oct 21–31~3 weeks
- Patuxent Research Refuge · 149 miusually Oct 21–31~3 weeks
Tulips
- Washington, DC · 142 miLocal timing: Apr 1–20~6 months
Wildflowers
- Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens · 142 miLocal timing: May 21–Sep 30
Frost and green-up
Last spring frost
Mar 16
Average (50% date)
First fall frost
Nov 26
About 255 days without frost between
Spring green-up
Feb 16
First bloom around Mar 27
Frost: NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at Norfolk Nas (2.7 mi from Norfolk), 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 Norfolk?
On average around Nov 26, and the last spring frost around Mar 16: about 255 days without frost between. These are NOAA's 1991–2020 normals at Norfolk Nas, 2.7 miles away (the day a 32 °F night is as likely as not).
When does spring green-up reach Norfolk?
The USA-NPN Spring Index puts first leaf around Feb 16 and first bloom around Mar 27, on average for 1991–2020 at the town.
Where can I see cherry blossoms near Norfolk?
Washington, DC, 142 miles (usually Mar 25–Apr 7); US National Arboretum, 143 miles (usually Mar 1–Apr 30). Distances are straight-line.
Where can I see fall foliage near Norfolk?
Great Dismal Swamp Refuge, 25 miles (local timing: Oct 21–31); Occoquan Bay Refuge, 129 miles (local timing: Oct 21–31); Patuxent Research Refuge, 149 miles (usually Oct 21–31). 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)