Your nature year
Salem, Oregonthrough the year
Also for Albany, OR, Keizer, OR, McMinnville, OR, Woodburn, OR, Eugene, OR, Springfield, OR, Corvallis, OR: the same nearby places.
When do frost, green-up and fall color come to Salem?
Expect about 212 frost-free days in Salem: the last spring frost usually comes around Apr 3, the first fall one around Nov 1, going by NOAA's Salem Airport (Mcnary Field) station 1.7 miles away. Salem sits at about 177 feet. Spring green-up reaches town around Feb 18, with first blooms around Apr 6. About 7 weeks pass between first leaf and first bloom here. Within 150 miles we follow 4 places, out to Mount Rainier 143 miles to the northeast. The closest place we follow is McKenzie Pass, 67 miles away, for fall foliage, usually well under way by late October (statewide). Wind River (81 mi) is the pick for wildflowers, Jul 15–Aug 31 (local timing). 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)
Salem's year at a glance
- Frost possible
- Frost-free, ~Apr 3 to ~Nov 1
- First leaf ~Feb 18
- First bloom ~Apr 6
- Fall color under way ~Oct 25 (OR)
- Today
Near Salem 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 Nov 1 · last spring frost around Apr 3NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Salem Airport (Mcnary Field) (1.7 mi, 50% dates)~5 weeks
- Fall foliage · McKenzie Pass · 67 miStatewide: usually well under way by late October~3 weeks
Salem's nature year
- Spring green-upFeb
- Last spring frostApr
- Wildflowers · Wind RiverJul–Aug
- Fall color (OR)Oct
- First fall frostNov
Nearby, season by season
Fall foliage
- McKenzie Pass · 67 miStatewide: usually well under way by late October~3 weeks
- Mt. Hood · 67 miStatewide: usually well under way by late October~3 weeks
- Wind River · 81 miStatewide: usually well under way by late October~4 weeks
Wildflowers
- Wind River · 81 miLocal timing: Jul 15–Aug 31~10 months
- Mount Rainier · 143 miusually Jul 21–Aug 10~10 months
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
Feb 18
First bloom around Apr 6
Frost: NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at Salem Airport (Mcnary Field) (1.7 mi from Salem), 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 Salem?
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 Salem Airport (Mcnary Field), 1.7 miles away (the day a 32 °F night is as likely as not).
When does spring green-up reach Salem?
The USA-NPN Spring Index puts first leaf around Feb 18 and first bloom around Apr 6, on average for 1991–2020 at the town.
Where can I see fall foliage near Salem?
McKenzie Pass, 67 miles (statewide: usually well under way by late October); Mt. Hood, 67 miles (statewide: usually well under way by late October); Wind River, 81 miles (statewide: usually well under way by late October). Distances are straight-line.
Where can I see wildflowers near Salem?
Wind River, 81 miles (local timing: Jul 15–Aug 31); Mount Rainier, 143 miles (usually Jul 21–Aug 10). 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)