Your nature year
St. Louis, Missourithrough the year
Also for St. Charles, MO, St. Peters, MO, Florissant, MO, Chesterfield, MO, Belleville, IL, Wildwood, MO, University City, MO, O'Fallon, IL, Ballwin, MO, Kirkwood, MO, Maryland Heights, MO, Granite City, IL, Edwardsville, IL: the same nearby places.
When do frost, green-up and fall color come to St. Louis?
The USA-NPN spring index puts first leaf here around Mar 12 and first bloom around Apr 12. About 4 weeks pass between first leaf and first bloom here.
At the nearest NOAA station, St Louis Sci Ctr, the average first fall frost is Nov 4 and the last spring frost Apr 1, which leaves St. Louis some 217 growing days. For a day trip, Mingo Refuge is 115 miles off; its spring migration is April and May are the best months (local timing). For fall foliage, the nearest is Shawnee National Forest (124 mi, usually well under way by late October (statewide)). We follow 2 places within 150 miles of St. Louis; the nearest lies 115 miles to the south.
Updated Sep 27. 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 St. Louis right now
- First fall frost usually around Nov 4 · last spring frost around Apr 1NOAA 1991–2020 normals, St Louis Sci Ctr (1.5 mi, 50% dates)~5 weeks
- Fall foliage · Shawnee National Forest · 124 miStatewide: usually well under way by late October~3 weeks
Your guide around St. Louis
Nearby, season by season
Fall foliage
- Shawnee National Forest · 124 miStatewide: usually well under way by late October~3 weeks
Spring migration
- Mingo Refuge · 115 miLocal timing: April and May are the best months~6 months
St. Louis's nature year
- Mar: Spring green-upMar
- Spring migration · Mingo RefugeApr–May
- Apr: Last spring frostApr
- Oct: Fall foliage · Shawnee National ForestOct
- Nov: First fall frostNov
St. Louis's year at a glance
- Frost possible
- Frost-free, ~Apr 1 to ~Nov 4
- First leaf ~Mar 12
- First bloom ~Apr 12
- Today
Frost and green-up
Last spring frost
Apr 1
Average (50% date)
First fall frost
Nov 4
About 217 days without frost between
Spring green-up
Mar 12
First bloom around Apr 12
Frost: NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at St Louis Sci Ctr (1.5 mi from St. Louis), 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 St. Louis?
On average around Nov 4, and the last spring frost around Apr 1: about 217 days without frost between. These are NOAA's 1991–2020 normals at St Louis Sci Ctr, 1.5 miles away (the day a 32 °F night is as likely as not).
When does spring green-up reach St. Louis?
The USA-NPN Spring Index puts first leaf around Mar 12 and first bloom around Apr 12, on average for 1991–2020 at the town.
Where can I see fall foliage near St. Louis?
Shawnee National Forest, 124 miles (statewide: usually well under way by late October). Distances are straight-line.
Where can I see spring migration near St. Louis?
Mingo Refuge, 115 miles (local timing: April and May are the best months). 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)