Your nature year
San Diego, Californiathrough the year
Also for Chula Vista, CA, Escondido, CA, Carlsbad, CA, El Cajon, CA, San Marcos, CA, Encinitas, CA, La Mesa, CA, Santee, CA, National City, CA, Poway, CA, Lemon Grove, CA, Imperial Beach, CA: the same nearby places.
When do frost, green-up and fall color come to San Diego?
San Diego usually sees its last spring frost around Jan 6 and its first fall frost around Dec 21, a frost-free stretch of about 349 days at the El Cajon weather station (12.1 mi). Leaves usually come out around Jan 21 and the first flowers around Feb 11.
About 3 weeks pass between first leaf and first bloom here. Within 150 miles we follow 4 places, out to Joshua Tree 107 miles to the northeast. For a day trip, Cabrillo is 11 miles off; its wildflowers is typically between late March and early April (usually). Cabrillo (11 mi) is the pick for wildlife by season, Mid-January is the peak time for migration, but whales are visible from mid- to late December through March (usually). Across California, fall color is usually well under way by late October.
Updated Sep 29. 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 San Diego 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 21 · last spring frost around Jan 6NOAA 1991–2020 normals, El Cajon (12.1 mi, 50% dates)~3 months
- San Diego Refuge · 13 mi · Local timing: common in the bird list's Fall (September through October) and Winter (November through February) seasonsWinter wildlife · in its window now
- Desert superbloom · Joshua Tree · 107 miLocal timing: January to mid-April low down, early March to early May at 3,000 to 5,000 feet, April through June above 5,000 feet~3 months
Your guide around San Diego
Nearby, season by season
Desert superbloom
- Joshua Tree · 107 miLocal timing: January to mid-April low down, early March to early May at 3,000 to 5,000 feet, April through June above 5,000 feet~3 months
Wildflowers
- Cabrillo · 11 miUsually: typically between late March and early April~6 months
- Laguna Meadow · 40 miLocal timing: Wildflower viewing is best in May and June~7 months
Wildlife by season
- Cabrillo · 11 miUsually: Mid-January is the peak time for migration, but whales are visible from mid- to late December through March~3 months
Winter wildlife
- San Diego Refuge · 13 miLocal timing: common in the bird list's Fall (September through October) and Winter (November through February) seasons
San Diego's nature year
- Desert superbloom · Joshua TreeJan–Jun
- Jan: Spring green-upJan
- Jan: Last spring frostJan
- Jan: Wildlife by season · CabrilloJan
- Wildflowers · CabrilloMar–Apr
- Winter wildlife · San Diego RefugeNowSep–Feb
- Oct: Fall color (CA)Oct
- Dec: First fall frostDec
San Diego's year at a glance
- Frost possible
- Frost-free, ~Jan 6 to ~Dec 21
- First leaf ~Jan 21
- First bloom ~Feb 11
- Fall color under way ~Oct 28 (CA)
- Today
Frost and green-up
Last spring frost
Jan 6
Average (50% date)
First fall frost
Dec 21
About 349 days without frost between
Spring green-up
Jan 21
First bloom around Feb 11
Frost: NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at El Cajon (12.1 mi from San Diego), 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 San Diego?
On average around Dec 21, and the last spring frost around Jan 6: about 349 days without frost between. These are NOAA's 1991–2020 normals at El Cajon, 12.1 miles away (the day a 32 °F night is as likely as not).
When does spring green-up reach San Diego?
The USA-NPN Spring Index puts first leaf around Jan 21 and first bloom around Feb 11, on average for 1991–2020 at the town.
Where can I see desert superbloom near San Diego?
Joshua Tree, 107 miles (local timing: January to mid-April low down, early March to early May at 3,000 to 5,000 feet, April through June above 5,000 feet). Distances are straight-line.
Where can I see wildflowers near San Diego?
Cabrillo, 11 miles (usually: typically between late March and early April); Laguna Meadow, 40 miles (local timing: Wildflower viewing is best in May and June). 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 29)