Your nature year
Paducah, Kentuckythrough the year
When do frost, green-up and fall color come to Paducah?
Within 150 miles we follow 4 places, out to Mammoth Cave 140 miles to the east. For a day trip, Shawnee National Forest is 40 miles off; its fall foliage is usually well under way by late October (statewide). For wildflowers, the nearest is Mammoth Cave (140 mi, Mar 1–May 31 (local timing)). At the nearest NOAA station, Brookport Dam 52, the average first fall frost is Oct 27 and the last spring frost Apr 6, which leaves Paducah some 204 growing days. Spring green-up reaches town around Mar 5, with first blooms around Apr 7. Paducah sits at about 375 feet. Across Kentucky, 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)
Paducah's year at a glance
- Frost possible
- Frost-free, ~Apr 6 to ~Oct 27
- First leaf ~Mar 5
- First bloom ~Apr 7
- Fall color under way ~Oct 25 (KY)
- Today
Near Paducah right now
- Fall color is usually well under way by late October in KentuckyStatewide · USA-NPN volunteer observations, 2020–2025 · not a forecast~4 weeks
- First fall frost usually around Oct 27 · last spring frost around Apr 6NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Brookport Dam 52 (3.9 mi, 50% dates)~4 weeks
- Fall foliage · Shawnee National Forest · 40 miStatewide: usually well under way by late October~4 weeks
Paducah's nature year
- Wildflowers · Mammoth CaveMar–May
- Spring green-upMar
- Last spring frostApr
- Fall color (KY)Oct
- First fall frostOct
Nearby, season by season
Fall foliage
- Shawnee National Forest · 40 miStatewide: usually well under way by late October~4 weeks
- Natchez Trace Parkway · 127 miLocal timing: Oct 11–31~13 days
- Hoosier National Forest · 139 miStatewide: usually well under way by late October~3 weeks
Wildflowers
- Mammoth Cave · 140 miLocal timing: Mar 1–May 31~5 months
Frost and green-up
Last spring frost
Apr 6
Average (50% date)
First fall frost
Oct 27
About 204 days without frost between
Spring green-up
Mar 5
First bloom around Apr 7
Frost: NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at Brookport Dam 52 (3.9 mi from Paducah), 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 Paducah?
On average around Oct 27, and the last spring frost around Apr 6: about 204 days without frost between. These are NOAA's 1991–2020 normals at Brookport Dam 52, 3.9 miles away (the day a 32 °F night is as likely as not).
When does spring green-up reach Paducah?
The USA-NPN Spring Index puts first leaf around Mar 5 and first bloom around Apr 7, on average for 1991–2020 at the town.
Where can I see fall foliage near Paducah?
Shawnee National Forest, 40 miles (statewide: usually well under way by late October); Natchez Trace Parkway, 127 miles (local timing: Oct 11–31); Hoosier National Forest, 139 miles (statewide: usually well under way by late October). Distances are straight-line.
Where can I see wildflowers near Paducah?
Mammoth Cave, 140 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)