Your nature year
Oakland, Californiathrough the year
Also for Hayward, CA, Concord, CA, Vallejo, CA, Berkeley, CA, Richmond, CA, San Mateo, CA, Daly City, CA, San Leandro, CA, San Ramon, CA, Redwood City, CA, Alameda, CA, Pittsburg, CA, Pleasanton, CA, Walnut Creek, CA, Dublin, CA, South San Francisco, CA, San Rafael, CA, Danville, CA, San Bruno, CA, Pacifica, CA, Martinez, CA, Pleasant Hill, CA, Foster City, CA, San Pablo, CA, Burlingame, CA, San Carlos, CA, Belmont, CA, Hercules, CA, Benicia, CA, El Cerrito, CA, Lafayette, CA: the same nearby places.
When do frost, green-up and fall color come to Oakland?
We follow 5 places within 150 miles of Oakland; the nearest lies 45 miles to the west. For a day trip, Point Reyes is 45 miles off; its wildflowers is Feb 1–Aug 31 (local timing). For fall foliage, the nearest is Yosemite (139 mi, usually Oct 11–31). At the nearest NOAA station, Oakland International Airport, the average first fall frost is Dec 23 and the last spring frost Jan 7, which leaves Oakland some 350 growing days. The USA-NPN spring index puts first leaf here around Jan 27 and first bloom around Feb 21. Statewide, California'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)
Oakland's year at a glance
- Frost possible
- Frost-free, ~Jan 7 to ~Dec 23
- First leaf ~Jan 27
- First bloom ~Feb 21
- Fall color under way ~Oct 28 (CA)
- Today
Near Oakland 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 Dec 23 · last spring frost around Jan 7NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Oakland International Airport (3.6 mi, 50% dates)~3 months
- Fall foliage · Yosemite · 139 miusually Oct 11–31~13 days
Oakland's nature year
- Spring green-upJan
- Last spring frostJan
- Wildflowers · Point ReyesFeb–Aug
- Fall color (CA)Oct
- First fall frostDec
Nearby, season by season
Fall foliage
- Yosemite · 139 miusually Oct 11–31~13 days
Wildflowers
- Point Reyes · 45 miLocal timing: Feb 1–Aug 31~4 months
- San Joaquin River Refuge · 52 miLocal timing: Apr 1–30~6 months
- San Luis Refuge · 80 miLocal timing: Apr 1–30~6 months
Frost and green-up
Last spring frost
Jan 7
Average (50% date)
First fall frost
Dec 23
About 350 days without frost between
Spring green-up
Jan 27
First bloom around Feb 21
Frost: NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at Oakland International Airport (3.6 mi from Oakland), 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 Oakland?
On average around Dec 23, and the last spring frost around Jan 7: about 350 days without frost between. These are NOAA's 1991–2020 normals at Oakland International Airport, 3.6 miles away (the day a 32 °F night is as likely as not).
When does spring green-up reach Oakland?
The USA-NPN Spring Index puts first leaf around Jan 27 and first bloom around Feb 21, on average for 1991–2020 at the town.
Where can I see fall foliage near Oakland?
Yosemite, 139 miles (usually Oct 11–31). Distances are straight-line.
Where can I see wildflowers near Oakland?
Point Reyes, 45 miles (local timing: Feb 1–Aug 31); San Joaquin River Refuge, 52 miles (local timing: Apr 1–30); San Luis Refuge, 80 miles (local timing: Apr 1–30). 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)