Your nature year
Philadelphia, Pennsylvaniathrough the year
Also for Trenton, NJ, Camden, NJ, Norristown, PA, Chester, PA: the same nearby places.
When do frost, green-up and fall color come to Philadelphia?
Within 150 miles we follow 18 places, out to Western Catskills 150 miles to the north. For a day trip, Bombay Hook is 55 miles off; its wildflowers is Apr 1–May 31 (local timing). Delaware Water Gap (67 mi) is the pick for fall foliage, usually well under way by late October (statewide). Frost usually lets go around Mar 30 and comes back around Nov 17, according to NOAA's Phila Franklin Inst station, 4.1 miles away: roughly 232 days without it. The USA-NPN spring index puts first leaf here around Mar 19 and first bloom around Apr 20. At some 100 feet up, Philadelphia is on low ground. Across Pennsylvania, 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)
Philadelphia's year at a glance
- Frost possible
- Frost-free, ~Mar 30 to ~Nov 17
- First leaf ~Mar 19
- First bloom ~Apr 20
- Fall color under way ~Oct 25 (PA)
- Today
Near Philadelphia right now
- Fall color is usually well under way by late October in PennsylvaniaStatewide · USA-NPN volunteer observations, 2020–2025 · not a forecast~4 weeks
- First fall frost usually around Nov 17 · last spring frost around Mar 30NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Phila Franklin Inst (4.1 mi, 50% dates)~7 weeks
- Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens · 123 mi · Local timing: May 21–Sep 30Wildflowers · in its window now
- Fall foliage · Delaware Water Gap · 67 miStatewide: usually well under way by late October~3 weeks
Philadelphia's nature year
- Cherry blossoms · Baltimore (Fort McHenry)Mar–Apr
- Spring green-upMar
- Last spring frostMar
- Wildflowers · Bombay HookApr–May
- Tulips · Washington, DCApr
- Fall color (PA)Oct
- First fall frostNov
Nearby, season by season
Cherry blossoms
- Baltimore (Fort McHenry) · 93 miusually Mar 24–Apr 7~6 months
- US National Arboretum · 124 miusually Mar 1–Apr 30~5 months
- Washington, DC · 128 miusually Mar 25–Apr 7~6 months
Fall foliage
- Delaware Water Gap · 67 miStatewide: usually well under way by late October~3 weeks
- Cherry Valley Refuge · 68 miusually Oct 21–31~3 weeks
- New York City · 81 miStatewide: usually well under way by mid-October~3 weeks
Tulips
- Washington, DC · 128 miLocal timing: Apr 1–20~6 months
Wildflowers
- Bombay Hook · 55 miLocal timing: Apr 1–May 31~6 months
- Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens · 123 miLocal timing: May 21–Sep 30
- Catoctin Mountain · 124 miLocal timing: Apr 1–May 31~6 months
Frost and green-up
Last spring frost
Mar 30
Average (50% date)
First fall frost
Nov 17
About 232 days without frost between
Spring green-up
Mar 19
First bloom around Apr 20
Frost: NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at Phila Franklin Inst (4.1 mi from Philadelphia), 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 Philadelphia?
On average around Nov 17, and the last spring frost around Mar 30: about 232 days without frost between. These are NOAA's 1991–2020 normals at Phila Franklin Inst, 4.1 miles away (the day a 32 °F night is as likely as not).
When does spring green-up reach Philadelphia?
The USA-NPN Spring Index puts first leaf around Mar 19 and first bloom around Apr 20, on average for 1991–2020 at the town.
Where can I see cherry blossoms near Philadelphia?
Baltimore (Fort McHenry), 93 miles (usually Mar 24–Apr 7); US National Arboretum, 124 miles (usually Mar 1–Apr 30); Washington, DC, 128 miles (usually Mar 25–Apr 7). Distances are straight-line.
Where can I see fall foliage near Philadelphia?
Delaware Water Gap, 67 miles (statewide: usually well under way by late October); Cherry Valley Refuge, 68 miles (usually Oct 21–31); New York City, 81 miles (statewide: usually well under way by mid-October). 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)