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When does it first snow in Albany, NY?

At Albany, the typical date of the first measurable snowfall (0.1 inch or more in a day) is Nov 14. That is the median over the last 30 snow seasons: half of seasons saw it earlier, half later. In about 1 season in 10 it came by Oct 27, and in 1 in 10 not until Dec 8 or later. The earliest was Oct 23 (2002-03) and the latest Dec 28 (2015-16). A first snowfall of at least 1 inch in a single day typically arrives around Nov 26, and 100% of seasons had one. The first freeze of fall (a low of 32°F or colder) typically comes around Oct 16, and the last freeze of spring around Apr 30.

This season so far (2026-27, data through Oct 16, 2026): no measurable snow recorded yet; no 32°F freeze recorded yet at this station. Compare with the typical dates above. This is observed data and can lag by a day or two, and it is not a forecast.

Nov 14Median first measurable snow (0.1"+)

Nov 26Median first 1"+ snowfall

57.1"Average snowfall per season

33%Chance of white Christmas (1"+ on ground Dec 25)

Oct 16Median first fall freeze (≤32°F)

Apr 30Median last spring freeze (≤32°F)

165Median freeze-free days between

First snowfall dates at Albany

First day with…	Median date	Typical range (10th–90th pct)	Earliest in 30 seasons	Latest in 30 seasons	Seasons with one
0.1" of snow or more (measurable)	Nov 14	Oct 27 – Dec 8	Oct 23 (2002-03)	Dec 28 (2015-16)	100%
1" of snow or more	Nov 26	Nov 7 – Dec 29	Oct 27 (2011-12)	Jan 19 (2006-07)	100%
3" of snow or more	Dec 14	Nov 16 – Jan 19	Oct 29 (2011-12)	Apr 4 (2015-16)	100%

Based on 30 seasons (July–June, 1995-96 to 2024-25) with at least 85% complete daily snowfall records at the station. Dates are for a single day’s snowfall, so "1 inch" means one calendar day with 1" or more, not total accumulation.

Chance the first snow has already happened by a given date

Snowfall	By Nov 1	By Dec 1	By Jan 1
0.1"+ (measurable)	20%	80%	100%
1"+	10%	57%	93%

In spring, the last measurable snowfall of the season typically falls around Apr 4 (median).

White Christmas odds in Albany

NOAA defines a white Christmas as at least 1 inch of snow on the ground on the morning of December 25. Using the last 30 years of daily snow-depth records (1995–2024) at this station, Albany had that in 33% of years, at least 3 inches in 17%, and at least 6 inches in 3%. The average depth on Dec 25 was 1.1 inches and the deepest was 8 inches. New snow was falling (0.1" or more) on Christmas Day itself in 17% of years. Based on 30 years with a recorded depth on Dec 25.

Chance of at least 1 inch of snow on the ground, by date

Share of the last 30 years with 1"+ snow depth within 3 days of each date. Snow cover is most likely around Jan 20 (67%). Red line: Dec 25.

First and last freeze dates in Albany

Threshold	Event	Median date	Typical range (10th–90th pct)	Earliest / latest	Years with one
32°F or colder (freeze)	First in fall	Oct 16	Oct 3 – Oct 29	Sep 21 (2020) / Nov 3 (2019)	100%
32°F or colder (freeze)	Last in spring	Apr 30	Apr 22 – May 15	–	100%
28°F or colder (hard freeze)	First in fall	Nov 1	Oct 13 – Nov 9	Oct 4 (1996) / Nov 13 (2014)	100%
28°F or colder (hard freeze)	Last in spring	Apr 13	Mar 28 – Apr 22	–	100%

Based on the station’s daily minimum temperature, 1995–2024. “Freeze” here means a daily low at or below the threshold, which is not the same as visible frost. Your yard can differ by several degrees and days from an airport weather station, so use these as planning odds, not guarantees.

The median stretch between the last spring freeze and the first fall freeze (the freeze-free season) was about 165 days.

Nearby weather stations

Source station: Albany Intl Ap (USW00014735), elevation 280 ft. Data: NOAA NCEI GHCN-Daily. Computed by First Snow Dates; how we calculate this. Historical averages only; for a forecast see weather.gov.

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