Your nature year
San Luis Obispo, Californiathrough the year
Also for Atascadero, CA: the same nearby places.
When do frost, green-up and fall color come to San Luis Obispo?
The USA-NPN spring index puts first leaf here around Jan 25 and first bloom around Feb 19. About 4 weeks pass between first leaf and first bloom here. Expect about 314 frost-free days in San Luis Obispo: the last spring frost usually comes around Jan 31, the first fall one around Dec 11, going by NOAA's San Luis Obispo Mcchesney Fld station 2.4 miles away. Carrizo Plain, 59 miles from San Luis Obispo, is the nearest desert superbloom spot on this site, usually at its best Mar 21–Apr 10. Pinnacles (85 mi) is the pick for wildflowers, usually Mar 1–May 31. Head east for the closest of the 3 places we follow around San Luis Obispo. Across California, 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)
San Luis Obispo's year at a glance
- Frost possible
- Frost-free, ~Jan 31 to ~Dec 11
- First leaf ~Jan 25
- First bloom ~Feb 19
- Fall color under way ~Oct 28 (CA)
- Today
Near San Luis Obispo 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 11 · last spring frost around Jan 31NOAA 1991–2020 normals, San Luis Obispo Mcchesney Fld (2.4 mi, 50% dates)~2 months
- Wildflowers · Pinnacles · 85 miusually Mar 1–May 31~5 months
San Luis Obispo's nature year
- Spring green-upJan
- Last spring frostJan
- Wildflowers · PinnaclesMar–May
- Desert superbloom · Carrizo PlainMar–Apr
- Fall color (CA)Oct
- First fall frostDec
Nearby, season by season
Desert superbloom
- Carrizo Plain · 59 miusually Mar 21–Apr 10~6 months
Wildflowers
- Pinnacles · 85 miusually Mar 1–May 31~5 months
- San Luis Refuge · 141 miLocal timing: Apr 1–30~6 months
Frost and green-up
Last spring frost
Jan 31
Average (50% date)
First fall frost
Dec 11
About 314 days without frost between
Spring green-up
Jan 25
First bloom around Feb 19
Frost: NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at San Luis Obispo Mcchesney Fld (2.4 mi from San Luis Obispo), 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 Luis Obispo?
On average around Dec 11, and the last spring frost around Jan 31: about 314 days without frost between. These are NOAA's 1991–2020 normals at San Luis Obispo Mcchesney Fld, 2.4 miles away (the day a 32 °F night is as likely as not).
When does spring green-up reach San Luis Obispo?
The USA-NPN Spring Index puts first leaf around Jan 25 and first bloom around Feb 19, on average for 1991–2020 at the town.
Where can I see desert superbloom near San Luis Obispo?
Carrizo Plain, 59 miles (usually Mar 21–Apr 10). Distances are straight-line.
Where can I see wildflowers near San Luis Obispo?
Pinnacles, 85 miles (usually Mar 1–May 31); San Luis Refuge, 141 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)