Your nature year
Salt Lake City, Utahthrough the year
Also for West Valley City, UT, West Jordan, UT, Sandy, UT, South Jordan, UT, Layton, UT, Millcreek, UT, Herriman, UT, Taylorsville, UT, Murray, UT, Draper, UT, Riverton, UT, Bountiful, UT, Kearns metro, UT, Syracuse, UT, Midvale, UT, Clearfield, UT, Kaysville, UT, Cottonwood Heights, UT, Magna metro, UT, Holladay, UT, South Salt Lake, UT, Farmington, UT: the same nearby places.
When do frost, green-up and fall color come to Salt Lake City?
The USA-NPN spring index puts first leaf here around Mar 20 and first bloom around Apr 25. Spring takes about 5 weeks to go from leaf to bloom.
Expect about 206 frost-free days in Salt Lake City: the last spring frost usually comes around Apr 8, the first fall one around Oct 31, going by NOAA's Salt Lake City International Airport station 1.8 miles away. Bear River Refuge, 51 miles from Salt Lake City, is the nearest spring migration spot on this site, early April through mid-May (local timing). Fish Springs Refuge (101 mi) is the pick for fall & winter wildlife, mid-October into January (local timing). We follow 3 places within 150 miles of Salt Lake City; the nearest lies 51 miles to the north.
Checked against 3 official sources · How we check →
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)
Near Salt Lake City right now
- First fall frost usually around Oct 31 · last spring frost around Apr 8NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Salt Lake City International Airport (1.8 mi, 50% dates)~4 weeks
- Fall & winter wildlife · next season nearby · 101 miLocal timing: mid-October into January~12 days
Places near Salt Lake City
Shorebirds in UtahWildlife refuge
51 mi
Season: Early April through mid-MayU.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ↗
Tundra swans in UtahWildlife refuge
101 mi
Season: Mid-October into JanuaryU.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ↗
Spring bird migration in WyomingWildlife refuge
133 mi
Usual peak: MayU.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ↗
Salt Lake City's nature year
| Month | What to see | Where |
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Salt Lake City's year at a glance
- Frost possible
- Frost-free, ~Apr 8 to ~Oct 31
- First leaf ~Mar 20
- First bloom ~Apr 25
- Today
Frost and green-up
Last spring frost
Apr 8
Average (50% date)
First fall frost
Oct 31
About 206 days without frost between
Spring green-up
Mar 20
First bloom around Apr 25
Frost: NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at Salt Lake City International Airport (1.8 mi from Salt Lake City), the day a 32 °F night is as likely as not. Green-up: the USA-NPN Spring Index, 1991–2020 average at the town.
Snow in Salt Lake City
Snow usually becomes possible around Nov 12 (our calculation from NOAA's daily snow chances: the first day the chance of 0.1" or more of snow reaches 10%). NOAA's normals at Salt Lake City International Airport (1.8 mi away): 52 inches of snow in an average year, about 16.1 days with 1 inch or more.
NOAA's chance of at least 0.1 inch of snow on each date (one value per week, September to May), averaged over 1991–2020. A typical year, not a forecast.
Questions people ask
When is the first frost in Salt Lake City?
On average around Oct 31, and the last spring frost around Apr 8: about 206 days without frost between. These are NOAA's 1991–2020 normals at Salt Lake City International Airport, 1.8 miles away (the day a 32 °F night is as likely as not).
When does spring green-up reach Salt Lake City?
The USA-NPN Spring Index puts first leaf around Mar 20 and first bloom around Apr 25, on average for 1991–2020 at the town.
Where can I see spring migration near Salt Lake City?
The nearest are Bear River Refuge (51 miles) and Seedskadee Refuge (133 miles). Bear River Refuge: local timing: early April through mid-May. Seedskadee Refuge: local timing: May. Distances are straight-line.
Where can I see fall & winter wildlife near Salt Lake City?
The nearest is Fish Springs Refuge (101 miles). Fish Springs Refuge: local timing: mid-October into January. Distances are straight-line.
When does it start snowing in Salt Lake City?
Snow usually becomes possible around Nov 12. That date is our calculation from NOAA's daily snow chances: the first day the chance of 0.1" or more of snow reaches 10%, at Salt Lake City International Airport. An average year brings 52 inches (NOAA 1991–2020). A typical year, not a forecast.Sources: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (annual/seasonal snowfall) ↗ (opens in a new tab), NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (daily snowfall probabilities) ↗ (opens in a new tab)
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)