Checked Sep 27 · NOAA climate normals
First snowtown by town
When does it usually start snowing?
Snow usually becomes possible first in Bozeman, MT, around Oct 17, and last, of the towns with a date, in Lynchburg, VA, around Jan 31. Half of the 78 towns with a date reach it by Nov 28. These dates are our calculation from NOAA's daily snow chances: the first day the chance of 0.1" or more of snow reaches 10%. In 79 of the 157 towns with their own page, that chance never reaches 10%.
Checked Sep 27. Sources: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (daily snowfall probabilities) ↗ (opens in a new tab), NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (annual/seasonal snowfall) ↗ (opens in a new tab)
- 1467towns with a NOAA snow station within 15 miles
- Oct 17earliest: Bozeman, MT
- Jan 31latest: Lynchburg, VA
- 128 inmost snow a year: Syracuse, NY
- ~3 weeksuntil snow usually becomes possible in Bozeman, MT (~Oct 17)
When snow usually becomes possible
- By the end of October (18)
- November (318)
- December (215)
- January or later (75)
- Daily chance never reaches 10% (841)
Each dot is a town of 25,000+ people with a NOAA snow station within 15 miles; bigger dots have their own page. The month is our calculation: the first day NOAA's daily chance of 0.1" or more of snow reaches 10%.
Where snow usually becomes possible next
- Bozeman, MT~Oct 17 ~3 weeks
- Boulder, CO~Oct 25 ~4 weeks
- Denver, CO~Oct 29 ~4 weeks
- Missoula, MT~Oct 31 ~5 weeks
- Syracuse, NY~Nov 4 ~5 weeks
- St. Cloud, MN~Nov 5 ~5 weeks
How the chance of snow builds through winter
NOAA's own numbers for one big town per region: the chance of at least 0.1 inch of snow on each date. Where a line crosses the dashed 10% line is the date we give for that town.
- New York, NY~Jan 2
- Minneapolis, MN~Nov 27
- Columbus, OH~Nov 25
- Denver, CO~Oct 29
- Louisville, KY~Dec 20
- Bend, OR~Dec 3
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.
Town by town
Alabama · 4 towns
- AuburnSnow is rare · 0.7 in a year · 0.4 days of 1"+
- BirminghamSnow is rare · 1.4 in a year · 0.5 days of 1"+
- HuntsvilleSnow is rare · 2.4 in a year · 0.7 days of 1"+
- TuscaloosaSnow is rare · 0 in a year · 0 days of 1"+
California · 24 towns
- BakersfieldSnow is rare · 0.1 in a year · 0 days of 1"+
- ChicoSnow is rare · 0.1 in a year · 0 days of 1"+
- DelanoSnow is rare · 0.2 in a year · 0.1 days of 1"+
- EurekaSnow is rare · 0 in a year · 0 days of 1"+
- FairfieldSnow is rare · 0 in a year · 0 days of 1"+
- FresnoSnow is rare · 0 in a year · 0 days of 1"+
- LancasterSnow is rare · 0 in a year · 0 days of 1"+
- LivermoreSnow is rare · 0 in a year · 0 days of 1"+
- Los BanosSnow is rare · 0 in a year · 0 days of 1"+
- MercedSnow is rare · 0 in a year · 0 days of 1"+
- ModestoSnow is rare · 0 in a year · 0 days of 1"+
- NovatoSnow is rare · 0 in a year · 0 days of 1"+
- OaklandSnow is rare · 0 in a year · 0 days of 1"+
- Paso RoblesSnow is rare · 0 in a year · 0 days of 1"+
- ReddingSnow is rare · 0.7 in a year · 0.3 days of 1"+
- RidgecrestSnow is rare · 0.5 in a year · 0.2 days of 1"+
- SacramentoSnow is rare · 0 in a year · 0 days of 1"+
- SalinasSnow is rare · 0 in a year · 0 days of 1"+
- San JoseSnow is rare · 0 in a year · 0 days of 1"+
- San Luis ObispoSnow is rare · 0 in a year · 0 days of 1"+
- Santa CruzSnow is rare · 0 in a year · 0 days of 1"+
- Santa RosaSnow is rare · 0 in a year · 0 days of 1"+
- StocktonSnow is rare · 0 in a year · 0 days of 1"+
- VictorvilleSnow is rare · 0 in a year · 0 days of 1"+
Colorado · 5 towns
- BoulderSnow possible from ~Oct 25 · 93 in a year · 22 days of 1"+
- DenverSnow possible from ~Oct 29 · 49 in a year · 15.9 days of 1"+
- Fort CollinsSnow possible from ~Nov 7 · 51 in a year · 14.4 days of 1"+
- Grand JunctionSnow possible from ~Nov 28 · 18 in a year · 6 days of 1"+
- PuebloSnow is rare · 15 in a year · 5.2 days of 1"+
Connecticut · 2 towns
- HartfordSnow possible from ~Dec 4 · 52 in a year · 12.5 days of 1"+
- BridgeportSnow possible from ~Dec 20 · 34 in a year · 9.1 days of 1"+
Delaware · 3 towns
- NewarkSnow possible from ~Jan 11 · 20 in a year · 5.3 days of 1"+
- DoverSnow is rare · 13 in a year · 3.4 days of 1"+
- WilmingtonSnow is rare · 12 in a year · 4.4 days of 1"+
District of Columbia · 1 town
- WashingtonSnow is rare · 9.7 in a year · 3.3 days of 1"+
Georgia · 6 towns
- AthensSnow is rare · 0.6 in a year · 0.3 days of 1"+
- AtlantaSnow is rare · 0.5 in a year · 0.1 days of 1"+
- AugustaSnow is rare · 0.8 in a year · 0.3 days of 1"+
- ColumbusSnow is rare · 0.5 in a year · 0.3 days of 1"+
- MiltonSnow is rare · 1.3 in a year · 1.1 days of 1"+
- NewnanSnow is rare · 1.7 in a year · 0.5 days of 1"+
Idaho · 3 towns
- Boise CitySnow possible from ~Nov 22 · 18 in a year · 6.1 days of 1"+
- PocatelloSnow possible from ~Nov 24 · 30 in a year · 12.8 days of 1"+
- LewistonSnow possible from ~Dec 8 · 13 in a year · 4.2 days of 1"+
Indiana · 2 towns
- BloomingtonSnow possible from ~Dec 22 · 18 in a year · 5.4 days of 1"+
- EvansvilleSnow is rare · 11 in a year · 3.2 days of 1"+
Kentucky · 4 towns
- FlorenceSnow possible from ~Dec 4 · 23 in a year · 7 days of 1"+
- LouisvilleSnow possible from ~Dec 20 · 15 in a year · 4.6 days of 1"+
- Bowling GreenSnow is rare · 8.5 in a year · 2.9 days of 1"+
- PaducahSnow is rare · 3.1 in a year · 1.8 days of 1"+
Maine · 2 towns
Maryland · 2 towns
Massachusetts · 6 towns
- WorcesterSnow possible from ~Nov 29 · 73 in a year · 16.3 days of 1"+
- SpringfieldSnow possible from ~Dec 4 · 52 in a year · 12.5 days of 1"+
- BostonSnow possible from ~Dec 6 · 49 in a year · 11.1 days of 1"+
- New BedfordSnow possible from ~Dec 24 · 33 in a year · 9.6 days of 1"+
- GloucesterSnow possible from ~Dec 30 · 51 in a year · 10.2 days of 1"+
- Barnstable TownSnow is rare · 22 in a year · 4.6 days of 1"+
Minnesota · 9 towns
- St. CloudSnow possible from ~Nov 5 · 48 in a year · 14.8 days of 1"+
- RochesterSnow possible from ~Nov 12 · 52 in a year · 15.2 days of 1"+
- DuluthSnow possible from ~Nov 17 · 56 in a year · 18.2 days of 1"+
- AustinSnow possible from ~Nov 20 · 43 in a year · 14.7 days of 1"+
- MankatoSnow possible from ~Nov 22 · 39 in a year · 13.2 days of 1"+
- MinneapolisSnow possible from ~Nov 27 · 40 in a year · 7.5 days of 1"+
- OwatonnaSnow possible from ~Nov 29 · 44 in a year · 15.2 days of 1"+
- WinonaSnow possible from ~Nov 30 · 38 in a year · 13.6 days of 1"+
- Elk RiverSnow possible from ~Dec 1 · 36 in a year · 12.9 days of 1"+
Montana · 3 towns
Nevada · 2 towns
New Hampshire · 1 town
- ConcordSnow possible from ~Nov 23 · 68 in a year · 16.5 days of 1"+
New Jersey · 3 towns
- New BrunswickSnow possible from ~Jan 2 · 29 in a year · 7.2 days of 1"+
- Atlantic CitySnow possible from ~Jan 18 · 17 in a year · 4.6 days of 1"+
- VinelandSnow possible from ~Jan 28 · 13 in a year · 4.8 days of 1"+
New Mexico · 2 towns
- FarmingtonSnow is rare · 8.6 in a year · 3.5 days of 1"+
- Santa FeSnow is rare · 20 in a year · 6 days of 1"+
New York · 5 towns
- SyracuseSnow possible from ~Nov 4 · 128 in a year · 34.1 days of 1"+
- AuburnSnow possible from ~Nov 7 · 109 in a year · 31.9 days of 1"+
- BuffaloSnow possible from ~Nov 7 · 95 in a year · 25.6 days of 1"+
- AlbanySnow possible from ~Nov 19 · 56 in a year · 14.2 days of 1"+
- New YorkSnow possible from ~Jan 2 · 25 in a year · 5.6 days of 1"+
North Carolina · 6 towns
- AshevilleSnow possible from ~Jan 20 · 12 in a year · 3.1 days of 1"+
- AsheboroSnow is rare · 4.6 in a year · 1.5 days of 1"+
- CharlotteSnow is rare · 3.5 in a year · 1 days of 1"+
- HickorySnow is rare · 0.3 in a year · 0.1 days of 1"+
- MooresvilleSnow is rare · 3.7 in a year · 1.4 days of 1"+
- Winston-SalemSnow is rare · 6.2 in a year · 2 days of 1"+
Ohio · 10 towns
- YoungstownSnow possible from ~Nov 7 · 68 in a year · 22.1 days of 1"+
- ClevelandSnow possible from ~Nov 11 · 64 in a year · 19.5 days of 1"+
- AkronSnow possible from ~Nov 12 · 47 in a year · 16.4 days of 1"+
- MansfieldSnow possible from ~Nov 16 · 49 in a year · 15.7 days of 1"+
- LorainSnow possible from ~Nov 23 · 44 in a year · 15.7 days of 1"+
- ColumbusSnow possible from ~Nov 25 · 28 in a year · 8.8 days of 1"+
- WoosterSnow possible from ~Dec 1 · 29 in a year · 12.4 days of 1"+
- MarysvilleSnow possible from ~Dec 9 · 24 in a year · 9 days of 1"+
- SpringfieldSnow possible from ~Dec 25 · 19 in a year · 8 days of 1"+
- NewarkSnow possible from ~Jan 1 · 15 in a year · 7 days of 1"+
Oregon · 5 towns
- BendSnow possible from ~Dec 3 · 22 in a year · 8.2 days of 1"+
- Grants PassSnow is rare · 0.9 in a year · 0.5 days of 1"+
- MedfordSnow is rare · 3.4 in a year · 1.1 days of 1"+
- PortlandSnow is rare · 3.6 in a year · 1 days of 1"+
- SalemSnow is rare · 1.1 in a year · 0.4 days of 1"+
Pennsylvania · 10 towns
- ErieSnow possible from ~Nov 7 · 104 in a year · 28.2 days of 1"+
- PittsburghSnow possible from ~Nov 13 · 44 in a year · 14.5 days of 1"+
- ScrantonSnow possible from ~Nov 24 · 45 in a year · 13.5 days of 1"+
- WilliamsportSnow possible from ~Nov 25 · 33 in a year · 9.6 days of 1"+
- AltoonaSnow possible from ~Dec 1 · 38 in a year · 12.8 days of 1"+
- AllentownSnow possible from ~Dec 21 · 33 in a year · 8.1 days of 1"+
- ReadingSnow possible from ~Jan 11 · 26 in a year · 7.8 days of 1"+
- LebanonSnow possible from ~Jan 12 · 24 in a year · 7.3 days of 1"+
- LancasterSnow possible from ~Jan 24 · 21 in a year · 5.7 days of 1"+
- PhiladelphiaSnow is rare · 16 in a year · 4.4 days of 1"+
Rhode Island · 1 town
- ProvidenceSnow possible from ~Dec 13 · 37 in a year · 9.8 days of 1"+
South Carolina · 3 towns
- AndersonSnow is rare · 0.9 in a year · 0.4 days of 1"+
- ColumbiaSnow is rare · 0.4 in a year · 0 days of 1"+
- GreenvilleSnow is rare · 3.9 in a year · 1.2 days of 1"+
Tennessee · 6 towns
- ChattanoogaSnow is rare · 3.6 in a year · 1 days of 1"+
- CookevilleSnow is rare · 6.1 in a year · 2 days of 1"+
- JacksonSnow is rare · 2.7 in a year · 1.2 days of 1"+
- Johnson CitySnow is rare · 6 in a year · 2.3 days of 1"+
- KnoxvilleSnow is rare · 4.6 in a year · 1.7 days of 1"+
- NashvilleSnow is rare · 4.7 in a year · 1.4 days of 1"+
Utah · 2 towns
- Cedar CitySnow possible from ~Nov 22 · 60 in a year · 16.8 days of 1"+
- St. GeorgeSnow is rare · 1.2 in a year · 0.4 days of 1"+
Vermont · 1 town
- BurlingtonSnow possible from ~Nov 7 · 88 in a year · 23.1 days of 1"+
Virginia · 8 towns
- BlacksburgSnow possible from ~Jan 2 · 25 in a year · 6.2 days of 1"+
- LeesburgSnow possible from ~Jan 19 · 21 in a year · 5.3 days of 1"+
- ManassasSnow possible from ~Jan 19 · 21 in a year · 5.3 days of 1"+
- LynchburgSnow possible from ~Jan 31 · 12 in a year · 3.8 days of 1"+
- HarrisonburgSnow is rare · 19 in a year · 5.9 days of 1"+
- NorfolkSnow is rare · 3 in a year · 1.1 days of 1"+
- RichmondSnow is rare · 8.8 in a year · 2.7 days of 1"+
- RoanokeSnow is rare · 15 in a year · 3.8 days of 1"+
Washington · 7 towns
- YakimaSnow possible from ~Nov 27 · 20 in a year · 6.5 days of 1"+
- BellinghamSnow is rare · 3.4 in a year · 1.1 days of 1"+
- KennewickSnow is rare · 2 in a year · 1.5 days of 1"+
- LongviewSnow is rare · 2.3 in a year · 1.2 days of 1"+
- OlympiaSnow is rare · 3.9 in a year · 1.3 days of 1"+
- SeattleSnow is rare · 3.8 in a year · 1.5 days of 1"+
- Walla WallaSnow is rare · 6.5 in a year · 3.7 days of 1"+
West Virginia · 4 towns
- CharlestonSnow possible from ~Dec 1 · 32 in a year · 9.6 days of 1"+
- MorgantownSnow possible from ~Jan 6 · 14 in a year · 5.5 days of 1"+
- HuntingtonSnow is rare · 10 in a year · 3.9 days of 1"+
- ParkersburgSnow is rare · 11 in a year · 3.8 days of 1"+
Wisconsin · 5 towns
- La CrosseSnow possible from ~Nov 7 · 54 in a year · 16.4 days of 1"+
- WausauSnow possible from ~Nov 7 · 63 in a year · 20 days of 1"+
- Eau ClaireSnow possible from ~Nov 10 · 54 in a year · 16.7 days of 1"+
- Green BaySnow possible from ~Nov 11 · 56 in a year · 16.7 days of 1"+
- AppletonSnow possible from ~Nov 15 · 49 in a year · 15.6 days of 1"+
Questions people ask
How do you work out when snow becomes possible?
From NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals: for every day of the year, NOAA gives the chance of at least 0.1 inch of snow at a weather station. We take the first day after July 1 when that chance reaches 10%, at the nearest station within 15 miles of each town. It's our calculation from NOAA's numbers, not a NOAA date and not a forecast.Sources: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (daily snowfall probabilities) ↗ (opens in a new tab), NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (annual/seasonal snowfall) ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Where does snow usually become possible next?
Bozeman, MT (around Oct 17), Boulder, CO (around Oct 25), Denver, CO (around Oct 29) and Missoula, MT (around Oct 31), going by NOAA's daily chances.
Which of these towns gets the most snow?
Syracuse, NY: 128 inches a year on average at Syracuse Hancock International Airport, with about 34.1 days of 1 inch or more (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).
Why does my town have no date?
Where snow is rare, NOAA's daily chance of 0.1 inch or more never reaches 10% on any day, so there's no date to give; NOAA's yearly average is still shown. 841 of the 1467 towns we checked are like that. Towns with no NOAA snow station within 15 miles aren't on the map.
Is this a forecast for this winter?
No. It's what a typical year looked like from 1991 to 2020. Any given winter can bring snow weeks earlier or later; for this week's weather, use the National Weather Service forecast.
Are there official first-snow dates for any towns?
For a few, yes. The National Weather Service office in Hastings, Nebraska publishes the average date of the first measurable snow (0.1 inch or more in a day) over the 1992–93 through 2021–22 seasons: Grand Island, NE Nov 11, Hastings, NE Nov 12 and Kearney, NE Nov 15. Those are measured averages; the dates on this page's map are our calculation from NOAA's daily chances.Source: National Weather Service Hastings, Average First Snowfall Dates ↗ (opens in a new tab)
How we know
- Sep 27ReferenceChance of 0.1 inch or more of snow on each date at the nearest stationSource (opens NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (daily snowfall probabilities) in a new tab)
- Sep 27ReferenceAverage yearly snowfall and days with 1 inch or more at the nearest stationSource (opens NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (annual/seasonal snowfall) in a new tab)