Your nature year
Seattle, Washingtonthrough the year
Also for Bellevue, WA, Kent, WA, Renton, WA, Federal Way, WA, Kirkland, WA, Auburn, WA, Redmond, WA, Sammamish, WA, Shoreline, WA, Burien, WA, Bothell, WA, Bremerton, WA, Edmonds, WA, Lynnwood, WA, Issaquah, WA, SeaTac, WA, Des Moines, WA, Maple Valley, WA, Mercer Island, WA, Mountlake Terrace, WA, Tacoma, WA, Lakewood, WA, Lacey, WA, Puyallup, WA, University Place, WA, Everett, WA, Marysville, WA, Lake Stevens, WA: the same nearby places.
When do frost, green-up and fall color come to Seattle?
Within 150 miles we follow 7 places, out to Wind River 133 miles to the south. Seattle, 3 miles from Seattle, is the nearest cherry blossoms spot on this site, Mar 21–Apr 10 (local timing). Mountain Loop Highway (42 mi) is the pick for fall foliage, usually well under way by late October (statewide). At NOAA's Seattle Boeing Fld station, 5.4 miles away, the average first fall frost is Nov 17 and the last spring frost Mar 13, which leaves Seattle some 249 growing days. The USA-NPN spring index puts first leaf here around Feb 14 and first bloom around Apr 7. At some 144 feet up, Seattle is on low ground. Statewide, Washington's 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)
Best this weekend nearby
- Washington Pass · 101 mi · Fall foliage
Usually Sep 21–Oct 10
Sat Oct 3: Mostly Sunny, 57°F · Sun Oct 4: Mostly Sunny, 58°F
No report yet
Places in their own usual window that weekend; reports are the latest official ones, forecasts from the National Weather Service.
Seattle's year at a glance
- Frost possible
- Frost-free, ~Mar 13 to ~Nov 17
- First leaf ~Feb 14
- First bloom ~Apr 7
- Fall color under way ~Oct 28 (WA)
- Today
Near Seattle right now
- Fall color is usually well under way by late October in WashingtonStatewide · USA-NPN volunteer observations, 2020–2025 · not a forecast~4 weeks
- First fall frost usually around Nov 17 · last spring frost around Mar 13NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Seattle Boeing Fld (5.4 mi, 50% dates)~7 weeks
- Mount Rainier · 64 mi · Local timing: Sep 1–30Fall foliage · in its window now
- Washington Pass · 101 mi · usually Sep 21–Oct 10Fall foliage · in its window now
- Cherry blossoms · Seattle · 3 miLocal timing: Mar 21–Apr 10~6 months
Seattle's nature year
- Spring green-upFeb
- Cherry blossoms · SeattleMar–Apr
- Last spring frostMar
- Lavender · SequimJul–Aug
- Wildflowers · Mountain Loop HighwayJul–Aug
- Fall color (WA)Oct
- First fall frostNov
Nearby, season by season
Cherry blossoms
- Seattle · 3 miLocal timing: Mar 21–Apr 10~6 months
Fall foliage
- Mountain Loop Highway · 42 miStatewide: usually well under way by late October~4 weeks
- Mount Rainier · 64 miLocal timing: Sep 1–30
- Washington Pass · 101 miusually Sep 21–Oct 10
Wildflowers
- Mountain Loop Highway · 42 miLocal timing: Jul 1–Aug 31~9 months
- Mount Rainier · 64 miusually Jul 21–Aug 10~10 months
- North Cascades · 84 miLocal timing: Feb 21–Sep 10~5 months
Frost and green-up
Last spring frost
Mar 13
Average (50% date)
First fall frost
Nov 17
About 249 days without frost between
Spring green-up
Feb 14
First bloom around Apr 7
Frost: NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at Seattle Boeing Fld (5.4 mi from Seattle), 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 Seattle?
On average around Nov 17, and the last spring frost around Mar 13: about 249 days without frost between. These are NOAA's 1991–2020 normals at Seattle Boeing Fld, 5.4 miles away (the day a 32 °F night is as likely as not).
When does spring green-up reach Seattle?
The USA-NPN Spring Index puts first leaf around Feb 14 and first bloom around Apr 7, on average for 1991–2020 at the town.
Where can I see cherry blossoms near Seattle?
Seattle, 3 miles (local timing: Mar 21–Apr 10). Distances are straight-line.
Where can I see fall foliage near Seattle?
Mountain Loop Highway, 42 miles (statewide: usually well under way by late October); Mount Rainier, 64 miles (local timing: Sep 1–30); Washington Pass, 101 miles (usually Sep 21–Oct 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)