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Your nature year

Wilmington, North Carolinathrough the year

Also for Leland, NC: the same nearby places.

When do frost, green-up and fall color come to Wilmington?

Pocosin Lakes Refuge, 129 miles from Wilmington, is the nearest winter wildlife spot on this site, Nov 1–Feb 28 (local timing). For fall foliage, the nearest is Pee Dee Refuge (139 mi, Sep 1–Nov 30 (local timing)).

Wilmington sits close to sea level, at about 43 feet. Expect about 246 frost-free days in Wilmington: the last spring frost usually comes around Mar 19, the first fall one around Nov 20, going by NOAA's Wilmington International Airport station 4.1 miles away. Spring takes about 5 weeks to go from leaf to bloom. The USA-NPN spring index puts first leaf here around Feb 5 and first bloom around Mar 10. We follow 4 places within 150 miles of Wilmington; the nearest lies 129 miles to the northeast. Statewide, North Carolina's fall color is usually well under way by mid-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)

Wilmington's year at a glance

  • Frost possible
  • Frost-free, ~Mar 19 to ~Nov 20
  • First leaf ~Feb 5
  • First bloom ~Mar 10
  • Fall color under way ~Oct 18 (NC)
  • Today

Near Wilmington right now

  • Fall color is usually well under way by mid-October in North CarolinaStatewide · USA-NPN volunteer observations, 2020–2025 · not a forecast
    ~3 weeks
  • First fall frost usually around Nov 20 · last spring frost around Mar 19NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Wilmington International Airport (4.1 mi, 50% dates)
    ~7 weeks
  • Pee Dee Refuge · 139 mi · Local timing: Sep 1–Nov 30Fall foliage · in its window now
    In season
  • Winter wildlife · Pocosin Lakes Refuge · 129 miLocal timing: Nov 1–Feb 28
    ~5 weeks

Wilmington's nature year

From the town's own dates and its nearest places
  • Spring green-upFeb
  • Last spring frostMar
  • Fall color (NC)Oct
  • First fall frostNov
  • Winter wildlife · Pocosin Lakes RefugeNov–Feb

Nearby, season by season

Real places within 150 miles, straight-line

Fall foliage

Winter wildlife

Frost and green-up

Last spring frost

Mar 19

Average (50% date)

First fall frost

Nov 20

About 246 days without frost between

Spring green-up

Feb 5

First bloom around Mar 10

Frost: NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at Wilmington International Airport (4.1 mi from Wilmington), 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 Wilmington?

On average around Nov 20, and the last spring frost around Mar 19: about 246 days without frost between. These are NOAA's 1991–2020 normals at Wilmington International Airport, 4.1 miles away (the day a 32 °F night is as likely as not).

When does spring green-up reach Wilmington?

The USA-NPN Spring Index puts first leaf around Feb 5 and first bloom around Mar 10, on average for 1991–2020 at the town.

Where can I see fall foliage near Wilmington?

Pee Dee Refuge, 139 miles (local timing: Sep 1–Nov 30). Distances are straight-line.

Where can I see winter wildlife near Wilmington?

Pocosin Lakes Refuge, 129 miles (local timing: Nov 1–Feb 28); Mattamuskeet Refuge, 129 miles (local timing: Nov 1–Feb 28); Carolina Sandhills Refuge, 135 miles (local timing: Oct 1–Mar 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)

All our sources and how we use them →