Your nature year
Ottumwa, Iowathrough the year
When do frost, green-up and fall color come to Ottumwa?
The closest place we follow is Port Louisa Refuge, 69 miles away, for spring migration, April to May (local timing). Meredosia Refuge (127 mi) is the pick for winter wildlife, migration typically peaks in November (usually).
Ottumwa usually sees its last spring frost around Apr 23 and its first fall frost around Oct 14, a frost-free stretch of about 174 days at NOAA's Ottumwa Ind Airport station, 5.5 miles away. About 4 weeks pass between first leaf and first bloom here. The USA-NPN spring index puts first leaf here around Apr 1 and first bloom around Apr 28. Head east for the closest of the 5 places we follow around Ottumwa.
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)
Near Ottumwa right now
- First fall frost usually around Oct 14 · last spring frost around Apr 23NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Ottumwa Ind Airport (5.5 mi, 50% dates)~2 weeks
- Winter wildlife · Meredosia Refuge · 127 miUsually: migration typically peaks in November~5 weeks
Your guide around Ottumwa
Nearby, season by season
Spring migration
- Port Louisa Refuge · 69 miLocal timing: April to May~6 months
- Swan Lake Refuge · 106 miLocal timing: April and May~6 months
Winter wildlife
- Meredosia Refuge · 127 miUsually: migration typically peaks in November~5 weeks
- Emiquon Refuge · 131 miUsually: migration typically peaks in November~5 weeks
- Chautauqua Refuge · 135 miUsually: Migration typically peaks in November~5 weeks
Ottumwa's nature year
- Spring migration · Port Louisa RefugeApr–May
- Apr: Spring green-upApr
- Apr: Last spring frostApr
- Oct: First fall frostOct
- Nov: Winter wildlife · Meredosia RefugeNov
Ottumwa's year at a glance
- Frost possible
- Frost-free, ~Apr 23 to ~Oct 14
- First leaf ~Apr 1
- First bloom ~Apr 28
- Today
Frost and green-up
Last spring frost
Apr 23
Average (50% date)
First fall frost
Oct 14
About 174 days without frost between
Spring green-up
Apr 1
First bloom around Apr 28
Frost: NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at Ottumwa Ind Airport (5.5 mi from Ottumwa), the day a 32 °F night is as likely as not. Green-up: the USA-NPN Spring Index, 1991–2020 average at the town.
Snow in Ottumwa
Snow usually becomes possible around Dec 18 (our calculation from NOAA's daily snow chances: the first day the chance of 0.1" or more of snow reaches 10%). NOAA's normals at Ottumwa Ind Airport (5.5 mi away): 24 inches of snow in an average year, about 8.1 days with 1 inch or more.
NOAA's chance of at least 0.1 inch of snow on each date (one value per week, September to May), averaged over 1991–2020. A typical year, not a forecast.
Questions people ask
When is the first frost in Ottumwa?
On average around Oct 14, and the last spring frost around Apr 23: about 174 days without frost between. These are NOAA's 1991–2020 normals at Ottumwa Ind Airport, 5.5 miles away (the day a 32 °F night is as likely as not).
When does spring green-up reach Ottumwa?
The USA-NPN Spring Index puts first leaf around Apr 1 and first bloom around Apr 28, on average for 1991–2020 at the town.
Where can I see spring migration near Ottumwa?
Port Louisa Refuge, 69 miles (local timing: April to May); Swan Lake Refuge, 106 miles (local timing: April and May). Distances are straight-line.
Where can I see winter wildlife near Ottumwa?
Meredosia Refuge, 127 miles (usually: migration typically peaks in November); Emiquon Refuge, 131 miles (usually: migration typically peaks in November); Chautauqua Refuge, 135 miles (usually: Migration typically peaks in November). Distances are straight-line.
When does it start snowing in Ottumwa?
Snow usually becomes possible around Dec 18: our calculation from NOAA's daily snow chances: the first day the chance of 0.1" or more of snow reaches 10%, at Ottumwa Ind Airport. An average year brings 24 inches (NOAA 1991–2020). A typical year, not a forecast.Sources: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (annual/seasonal snowfall) ↗ (opens in a new tab), NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (daily snowfall probabilities) ↗ (opens in a new tab)
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)