Your nature year
Portland, Oregonthrough the year
Also for Vancouver, WA, Gresham, OR, Hillsboro, OR, Beaverton, OR, Tigard, OR, Lake Oswego, OR, Oregon City, OR, Happy Valley, OR, Tualatin, OR, Wilsonville, OR, Camas, WA, Newberg, OR, Forest Grove, OR, West Linn, OR: the same nearby places.
When do frost, green-up and fall color come to Portland?
The closest place we follow is Wind River, 42 miles away, for fall foliage, usually well under way by late October (statewide). Wind River (42 mi) is the pick for wildflowers, Jul 15–Aug 31 (local timing). At some 162 feet up, Portland is on low ground. Portland usually sees its last spring frost around Feb 25 and its first fall frost around Dec 1, a frost-free stretch of about 279 days at the nearest NOAA station, Portland Kgw-Tv. Spring takes about 7 weeks to go from leaf to bloom. The USA-NPN spring index puts first leaf here around Feb 17 and first bloom around Apr 4. We follow 5 places within 150 miles of Portland; the nearest lies 42 miles to the east. Across Oregon, 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)
Portland's year at a glance
- Frost possible
- Frost-free, ~Feb 25 to ~Dec 1
- First leaf ~Feb 17
- First bloom ~Apr 4
- Fall color under way ~Oct 25 (OR)
- Today
Near Portland right now
- Fall color is usually well under way by late October in OregonStatewide · USA-NPN volunteer observations, 2020–2025 · not a forecast~4 weeks
- First fall frost usually around Dec 1 · last spring frost around Feb 25NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Portland Kgw-Tv (2.3 mi, 50% dates)~2 months
- Mount Rainier · 97 mi · Local timing: Sep 1–30Fall foliage · in its window now
- Cherry blossoms · Seattle · 146 miLocal timing: Mar 21–Apr 10~6 months
Portland's nature year
- Spring green-upFeb
- Last spring frostFeb
- Cherry blossoms · SeattleMar–Apr
- Wildflowers · Wind RiverJul–Aug
- Fall color (OR)Oct
- First fall frostDec
Nearby, season by season
Cherry blossoms
- Seattle · 146 miLocal timing: Mar 21–Apr 10~6 months
Fall foliage
- Wind River · 42 miStatewide: usually well under way by late October~4 weeks
- Mt. Hood · 46 miStatewide: usually well under way by late October~3 weeks
- Mount Rainier · 97 miLocal timing: Sep 1–30
Wildflowers
- Wind River · 42 miLocal timing: Jul 15–Aug 31~10 months
- Mount Rainier · 97 miusually Jul 21–Aug 10~10 months
Frost and green-up
Last spring frost
Feb 25
Average (50% date)
First fall frost
Dec 1
About 279 days without frost between
Spring green-up
Feb 17
First bloom around Apr 4
Frost: NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at Portland Kgw-Tv (2.3 mi from Portland), 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 Portland?
On average around Dec 1, and the last spring frost around Feb 25: about 279 days without frost between. These are NOAA's 1991–2020 normals at Portland Kgw-Tv, 2.3 miles away (the day a 32 °F night is as likely as not).
When does spring green-up reach Portland?
The USA-NPN Spring Index puts first leaf around Feb 17 and first bloom around Apr 4, on average for 1991–2020 at the town.
Where can I see cherry blossoms near Portland?
Seattle, 146 miles (local timing: Mar 21–Apr 10). Distances are straight-line.
Where can I see fall foliage near Portland?
Wind River, 42 miles (statewide: usually well under way by late October); Mt. Hood, 46 miles (statewide: usually well under way by late October); Mount Rainier, 97 miles (local timing: Sep 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)