Your nature year
Sierra Vista, Arizonathrough the year
When do frost, green-up and fall color come to Sierra Vista?
For a day trip, Saguaro is 70 miles off; its wildflowers is often best mid-late March (local timing). Cave Creek Canyon (71 mi) is the pick for fall foliage, Oct 1–Nov 30 (local timing).
The town is about 4,615 feet above sea level. Sierra Vista usually sees its last spring frost around Apr 5 and its first fall frost around Nov 9, a frost-free stretch of about 218 days at NOAA's Sierra Vista station, 2.8 miles away. Spring takes about 5 weeks to go from leaf to bloom. Leaves usually come out around Feb 1 and the first flowers around Mar 6. Within 150 miles we follow 3 places, out to Organ Pipe Cactus 149 miles to the west. Across Arizona, 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)
Sierra Vista's year at a glance
- Frost possible
- Frost-free, ~Apr 5 to ~Nov 9
- First leaf ~Feb 1
- First bloom ~Mar 6
- Fall color under way ~Oct 30 (AZ)
- Today
Near Sierra Vista right now
- Fall color is usually well under way by late October in ArizonaStatewide · USA-NPN volunteer observations, 2020–2025 · not a forecast~4 weeks
- First fall frost usually around Nov 9 · last spring frost around Apr 5NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Sierra Vista (2.8 mi, 50% dates)~6 weeks
- Fall foliage · Cave Creek Canyon · 71 miLocal timing: Oct 1–Nov 30~2 days
Sierra Vista's nature year
- Feb: Spring green-upFeb
- Mar: Wildflowers · SaguaroMar
- Apr: Last spring frostApr
- Oct: Fall color (AZ)Oct
- Nov: First fall frostNov
Nearby, season by season
Fall foliage
- Cave Creek Canyon · 71 miLocal timing: Oct 1–Nov 30~2 days
Wildflowers
- Saguaro · 70 miLocal timing: often best mid-late March~5 months
- Organ Pipe Cactus · 149 miLocal timing: between February and April~4 months
Frost and green-up
Last spring frost
Apr 5
Average (50% date)
First fall frost
Nov 9
About 218 days without frost between
Spring green-up
Feb 1
First bloom around Mar 6
Frost: NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at Sierra Vista (2.8 mi from Sierra Vista), 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 Sierra Vista?
On average around Nov 9, and the last spring frost around Apr 5: about 218 days without frost between. These are NOAA's 1991–2020 normals at Sierra Vista, 2.8 miles away (the day a 32 °F night is as likely as not).
When does spring green-up reach Sierra Vista?
The USA-NPN Spring Index puts first leaf around Feb 1 and first bloom around Mar 6, on average for 1991–2020 at the town.
Where can I see fall foliage near Sierra Vista?
Cave Creek Canyon, 71 miles (local timing: Oct 1–Nov 30). Distances are straight-line.
Where can I see wildflowers near Sierra Vista?
Saguaro, 70 miles (local timing: often best mid-late March); Organ Pipe Cactus, 149 miles (local timing: between February and April). 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)