Your nature year
Santa Cruz, Californiathrough the year
When do frost, green-up and fall color come to Santa Cruz?
The USA-NPN spring index puts first leaf here around Jan 27 and first bloom around Feb 24. At the Santa Cruz weather station (2.2 mi), the average first fall frost is Dec 13 and the last spring frost Jan 29, which leaves Santa Cruz some 318 growing days. Statewide, California's fall color is usually well under way by late October. Within 150 miles we follow 5 places, out to Yosemite 139 miles to the east. San Joaquin River Refuge, 61 miles from Santa Cruz, is the nearest wildflowers spot on this site, Apr 1–30 (local timing). For fall foliage, the nearest is Yosemite (139 mi, usually Oct 11–31). At roughly 83 feet, Santa Cruz is about as low as towns get.
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)
Santa Cruz's year at a glance
- Frost possible
- Frost-free, ~Jan 29 to ~Dec 13
- First leaf ~Jan 27
- First bloom ~Feb 24
- Fall color under way ~Oct 28 (CA)
- Today
Near Santa Cruz 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 13 · last spring frost around Jan 29NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Santa Cruz (2.2 mi, 50% dates)~3 months
- Fall foliage · Yosemite · 139 miusually Oct 11–31~13 days
Santa Cruz'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 · 139 miusually Oct 11–31~13 days
Wildflowers
- San Joaquin River Refuge · 61 miLocal timing: Apr 1–30~6 months
- San Luis Refuge · 66 miLocal timing: Apr 1–30~6 months
- Pinnacles · 70 miusually Mar 1–May 31~5 months
Frost and green-up
Last spring frost
Jan 29
Average (50% date)
First fall frost
Dec 13
About 318 days without frost between
Spring green-up
Jan 27
First bloom around Feb 24
Frost: NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at Santa Cruz (2.2 mi from Santa Cruz), 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 Santa Cruz?
On average around Dec 13, and the last spring frost around Jan 29: about 318 days without frost between. These are NOAA's 1991–2020 normals at Santa Cruz, 2.2 miles away (the day a 32 °F night is as likely as not).
When does spring green-up reach Santa Cruz?
The USA-NPN Spring Index puts first leaf around Jan 27 and first bloom around Feb 24, on average for 1991–2020 at the town.
Where can I see fall foliage near Santa Cruz?
Yosemite, 139 miles (usually Oct 11–31). Distances are straight-line.
Where can I see wildflowers near Santa Cruz?
San Joaquin River Refuge, 61 miles (local timing: Apr 1–30); San Luis Refuge, 66 miles (local timing: Apr 1–30); Pinnacles, 70 miles (usually Mar 1–May 31). 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)