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Your nature year

Roanoke, Virginiathrough the year

Also for Salem, VA: the same nearby places.

When do frost, green-up and fall color come to Roanoke?

Frost usually lets go around Apr 3 and comes back around Nov 1, according to the nearest NOAA station, Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport: roughly 212 days without it. The USA-NPN spring index puts first leaf here around Mar 3 and first bloom around Apr 8. Spring takes about 5 weeks to go from leaf to bloom. Head southwest for the closest of the 3 places we follow around Roanoke. For a day trip, George Washington and Jefferson is 104 miles off; its fall foliage is usually at its best Oct 11–31. George Washington and Jefferson (104 mi) is the pick for wildflowers, Mar 21–May 31 (local timing). Across Virginia, 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)

Roanoke's year at a glance

  • Frost possible
  • Frost-free, ~Apr 3 to ~Nov 1
  • First leaf ~Mar 3
  • First bloom ~Apr 8
  • Fall color under way ~Oct 25 (VA)
  • Today

Near Roanoke right now

  • Fall color is usually well under way by late October in VirginiaStatewide · USA-NPN volunteer observations, 2020–2025 · not a forecast
    ~4 weeks
  • First fall frost usually around Nov 1 · last spring frost around Apr 3NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport (2.8 mi, 50% dates)
    ~5 weeks
  • Canaan Valley Refuge · 135 mi · usually Sep 21–30Fall foliage · in its window now
    In season
  • Wildflowers · George Washington and Jefferson · 104 miLocal timing: Mar 21–May 31
    ~6 months

Roanoke's nature year

From the town's own dates and its nearest places
  • Wildflowers · George Washington and JeffersonMar–May
  • Spring green-upMar
  • Last spring frostApr
  • Fall color (VA)Oct
  • First fall frostNov

Nearby, season by season

Real places within 150 miles, straight-line

Fall foliage

Wildflowers

Frost and green-up

Last spring frost

Apr 3

Average (50% date)

First fall frost

Nov 1

About 212 days without frost between

Spring green-up

Mar 3

First bloom around Apr 8

Frost: NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport (2.8 mi from Roanoke), 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 Roanoke?

On average around Nov 1, and the last spring frost around Apr 3: about 212 days without frost between. These are NOAA's 1991–2020 normals at Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport, 2.8 miles away (the day a 32 °F night is as likely as not).

When does spring green-up reach Roanoke?

The USA-NPN Spring Index puts first leaf around Mar 3 and first bloom around Apr 8, on average for 1991–2020 at the town.

Where can I see fall foliage near Roanoke?

George Washington and Jefferson, 104 miles (usually Oct 11–31); Shenandoah, 119 miles (usually Oct 8–21); Canaan Valley Refuge, 135 miles (usually Sep 21–30). Distances are straight-line.

Where can I see wildflowers near Roanoke?

George Washington and Jefferson, 104 miles (local timing: Mar 21–May 31); Shenandoah, 119 miles (local timing: Mar 21–Jun 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)

All our sources and how we use them →