Your nature year
Staunton, Virginiathrough the year
When do frost, green-up and fall color come to Staunton?
Shenandoah, 42 miles from Staunton, is the nearest fall foliage spot on this site, usually at its best Oct 8–21. For wildflowers, the nearest is Shenandoah (42 mi, Mar 21–Jun 30 (local timing)).
Staunton sits at about 1,386 feet. Expect about 195 frost-free days in Staunton: the last spring frost usually comes around Apr 15, the first fall one around Oct 27, going by NOAA's Staunton Wtp station 2.2 miles away. Spring takes about 5 weeks to go from leaf to bloom. Leaves usually come out around Mar 14 and the first flowers around Apr 18. Within 150 miles we follow 18 places, out to Ohio River Islands Refuge 144 miles to the northwest. Statewide, Virginia'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)
Staunton's year at a glance
- Frost possible
- Frost-free, ~Apr 15 to ~Oct 27
- First leaf ~Mar 14
- First bloom ~Apr 18
- Fall color under way ~Oct 25 (VA)
- Today
Near Staunton right now
- Fall color is usually well under way by late October in VirginiaStatewide · USA-NPN volunteer observations, 2020–2025 · not a forecast~4 weeks
- First fall frost usually around Oct 27 · last spring frost around Apr 15NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Staunton Wtp (2.2 mi, 50% dates)~4 weeks
- Canaan Valley Refuge · 72 mi · usually Sep 21–30Fall foliage · in its window now
- Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens · 126 mi · Local timing: May 21–Sep 30Wildflowers · in its window now
- Cherry blossoms · Washington, DC · 120 miusually Mar 25–Apr 7~6 months
Staunton's nature year
- Wildflowers · ShenandoahMar–Jun
- Cherry blossoms · Washington, DCMar–Apr
- Spring green-upMar
- Last spring frostApr
- Tulips · Washington, DCApr
- Fall color (VA)Oct
- First fall frostOct
Nearby, season by season
Cherry blossoms
- Washington, DC · 120 miusually Mar 25–Apr 7~6 months
- US National Arboretum · 124 miusually Mar 1–Apr 30~5 months
Fall foliage
- Shenandoah · 42 miusually Oct 8–21~10 days
- Canaan Valley Refuge · 72 miusually Sep 21–30
- Occoquan Bay Refuge · 104 miLocal timing: Oct 21–31~3 weeks
Tulips
- Washington, DC · 120 miLocal timing: Apr 1–20~6 months
Wildflowers
- Shenandoah · 42 miLocal timing: Mar 21–Jun 30~6 months
- Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens · 126 miLocal timing: May 21–Sep 30
- Catoctin Mountain · 135 miLocal timing: Apr 1–May 31~6 months
Frost and green-up
Last spring frost
Apr 15
Average (50% date)
First fall frost
Oct 27
About 195 days without frost between
Spring green-up
Mar 14
First bloom around Apr 18
Frost: NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at Staunton Wtp (2.2 mi from Staunton), 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 Staunton?
On average around Oct 27, and the last spring frost around Apr 15: about 195 days without frost between. These are NOAA's 1991–2020 normals at Staunton Wtp, 2.2 miles away (the day a 32 °F night is as likely as not).
When does spring green-up reach Staunton?
The USA-NPN Spring Index puts first leaf around Mar 14 and first bloom around Apr 18, on average for 1991–2020 at the town.
Where can I see cherry blossoms near Staunton?
Washington, DC, 120 miles (usually Mar 25–Apr 7); US National Arboretum, 124 miles (usually Mar 1–Apr 30). Distances are straight-line.
Where can I see fall foliage near Staunton?
Shenandoah, 42 miles (usually Oct 8–21); Canaan Valley Refuge, 72 miles (usually Sep 21–30); Occoquan Bay Refuge, 104 miles (local timing: Oct 21–31). 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)