Your nature year
Sioux Falls, South Dakotathrough the year
When do frost, green-up and fall color come to Sioux Falls?
The USA-NPN spring index puts first leaf here around Apr 13 and first bloom around May 12. At NOAA's Sioux Falls Wfo Airport station, 3.3 miles away, the average first fall frost is Oct 13 and the last spring frost Apr 26, which leaves Sioux Falls some 170 growing days.
We follow 3 places within 150 miles of Sioux Falls; the nearest lies 133 miles to the north. The closest place we follow is Waubay Refuge, 133 miles away, for spring migration, mid-April to May (local timing). DeSoto Refuge (143 mi) is the pick for fall & winter wildlife, early December, and again in late February and early March (local timing).
Checked against 3 official sources · How we check →
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 Sioux Falls right now
- First fall frost usually around Oct 13 · last spring frost around Apr 26NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Sioux Falls Wfo Airport (3.3 mi, 50% dates)~10 days
- Fall & winter wildlife · next season nearby · 143 miLocal timing: early December, and again in late February and early March~8 weeks
Places near Sioux Falls
Spring bird migration in South DakotaWildlife refuge
133 mi
Most numerous: Mid-April to MayU.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ↗
Spring waterfowl in NebraskaWildlife refuge
150 mi
Season: Early MarchU.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ↗
Sioux Falls's nature year
| Month | What to see | Where |
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Sioux Falls's year at a glance
- Frost possible
- Frost-free, ~Apr 26 to ~Oct 13
- First leaf ~Apr 13
- First bloom ~May 12
- Today
Frost and green-up
Last spring frost
Apr 26
Average (50% date)
First fall frost
Oct 13
About 170 days without frost between
Spring green-up
Apr 13
First bloom around May 12
Frost: NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at Sioux Falls Wfo Airport (3.3 mi from Sioux Falls), the day a 32 °F night is as likely as not. Green-up: the USA-NPN Spring Index, 1991–2020 average at the town.
Snow in Sioux Falls
Snow usually becomes possible around Nov 11 (our calculation from NOAA's daily snow chances: the first day the chance of 0.1" or more of snow reaches 10%). NOAA's normals at Sioux Falls (3.3 mi away): 45 inches of snow in an average year, about 12.5 days with 1 inch or more.
NOAA's chance of at least 0.1 inch of snow on each date (one value per week, September to May), averaged over 1991–2020. A typical year, not a forecast.
Questions people ask
When is the first frost in Sioux Falls?
On average around Oct 13, and the last spring frost around Apr 26: about 170 days without frost between. These are NOAA's 1991–2020 normals at Sioux Falls Wfo Airport, 3.3 miles away (the day a 32 °F night is as likely as not).
When does spring green-up reach Sioux Falls?
The USA-NPN Spring Index puts first leaf around Apr 13 and first bloom around May 12, on average for 1991–2020 at the town.
Where can I see spring migration near Sioux Falls?
The nearest are Waubay Refuge (133 miles) and Boyer Chute Refuge (150 miles). Waubay Refuge: local timing: mid-April to May. Boyer Chute Refuge: local timing: In early spring (typically early March). Distances are straight-line.
Where can I see fall & winter wildlife near Sioux Falls?
The nearest is DeSoto Refuge (143 miles). DeSoto Refuge: local timing: early December, and again in late February and early March. Distances are straight-line.
When does it start snowing in Sioux Falls?
Snow usually becomes possible around Nov 11. That date is our calculation from NOAA's daily snow chances: the first day the chance of 0.1" or more of snow reaches 10%, at Sioux Falls. An average year brings 45 inches (NOAA 1991–2020). A typical year, not a forecast.Sources: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (annual/seasonal snowfall) ↗ (opens in a new tab), NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (daily snowfall probabilities) ↗ (opens in a new tab)
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)