Your nature year
Sacramento, Californiathrough the year
Also for Elk Grove, CA, Citrus Heights, CA, Rancho Cordova, CA, Rocklin, CA, Davis, CA, Woodland, CA, Lincoln, CA, West Sacramento, CA, Galt, CA: the same nearby places.
When do frost, green-up and fall color come to Sacramento?
The USA-NPN spring index puts first leaf here around Jan 31 and first bloom around Mar 1. Expect about 338 frost-free days in Sacramento: the last spring frost usually comes around Jan 12, the first fall one around Dec 16, going by NOAA's Sacramento 5 ESE station 2.8 miles away. Across California, fall color is usually well under way by late October. We follow 7 places within 150 miles of Sacramento; the nearest lies 65 miles to the south. San Joaquin River Refuge, 65 miles from Sacramento, is the nearest wildflowers spot on this site, Apr 1–30 (local timing). For fall foliage, the nearest is Yosemite (113 mi, usually Oct 11–31).
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)
Sacramento's year at a glance
- Frost possible
- Frost-free, ~Jan 12 to ~Dec 16
- First leaf ~Jan 31
- First bloom ~Mar 1
- Fall color under way ~Oct 28 (CA)
- Today
Near Sacramento right now
- Fall color is usually well under way by late October in CaliforniaStatewide · USA-NPN volunteer observations, 2020–2025 · not a forecast~4 weeks
- First fall frost usually around Dec 16 · last spring frost around Jan 12NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Sacramento 5 ESE (2.8 mi, 50% dates)~3 months
- Fall foliage · Yosemite · 113 miusually Oct 11–31~13 days
Sacramento's nature year
- Spring green-upJan
- Last spring frostJan
- Wildflowers · San Joaquin River RefugeApr
- Fall color (CA)Oct
- First fall frostDec
Nearby, season by season
Fall foliage
- Yosemite · 113 miusually Oct 11–31~13 days
- Hat Creek Rim · 148 miStatewide: usually well under way by late October~4 weeks
Wildflowers
- San Joaquin River Refuge · 65 miLocal timing: Apr 1–30~6 months
- Point Reyes · 92 miLocal timing: Feb 1–Aug 31~4 months
- San Luis Refuge · 93 miLocal timing: Apr 1–30~6 months
Frost and green-up
Last spring frost
Jan 12
Average (50% date)
First fall frost
Dec 16
About 338 days without frost between
Spring green-up
Jan 31
First bloom around Mar 1
Frost: NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at Sacramento 5 ESE (2.8 mi from Sacramento), 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 Sacramento?
On average around Dec 16, and the last spring frost around Jan 12: about 338 days without frost between. These are NOAA's 1991–2020 normals at Sacramento 5 ESE, 2.8 miles away (the day a 32 °F night is as likely as not).
When does spring green-up reach Sacramento?
The USA-NPN Spring Index puts first leaf around Jan 31 and first bloom around Mar 1, on average for 1991–2020 at the town.
Where can I see fall foliage near Sacramento?
Yosemite, 113 miles (usually Oct 11–31); Hat Creek Rim, 148 miles (statewide: usually well under way by late October). Distances are straight-line.
Where can I see wildflowers near Sacramento?
San Joaquin River Refuge, 65 miles (local timing: Apr 1–30); Point Reyes, 92 miles (local timing: Feb 1–Aug 31); San Luis Refuge, 93 miles (local timing: Apr 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)