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When does it first snow in Albuquerque, NM?

At Albuquerque, the typical date of the first measurable snowfall (0.1 inch or more in a day) is Nov 28. 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 26, and in 1 in 10 not until Dec 19 or later. The earliest was Oct 5 (2004-05) and the latest Feb 20 (2017-18). A first snowfall of at least 1 inch in a single day typically arrives around Dec 22, and 90% of seasons had one. The first freeze of fall (a low of 32°F or colder) typically comes around Nov 3, and the last freeze of spring around Apr 7.

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 28Median first measurable snow (0.1"+)

Dec 22Median first 1"+ snowfall

7.4"Average snowfall per season

0%Chance of white Christmas (1"+ on ground Dec 25)

Nov 3Median first fall freeze (≤32°F)

Apr 7Median last spring freeze (≤32°F)

207Median freeze-free days between

First snowfall dates at Albuquerque

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 28	Oct 26 – Dec 19	Oct 5 (2004-05)	Feb 20 (2017-18)	100%
1" of snow or more	Dec 22	Nov 18 – Feb 18	Oct 21 (1996-97)	Mar 22 (1999-00)	90%
3" of snow or more	Dec 19	Dec 4 – Mar 2	Nov 28 (2019-20)	Mar 14 (2004-05)	31%

Based on 29 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)	17%	55%	97%
1"+	7%	17%	52%

In spring, the last measurable snowfall of the season typically falls around Mar 17 (median).

White Christmas odds in Albuquerque

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, Albuquerque had that in 0% of years, at least 3 inches in 0%, and at least 6 inches in 0%. The average depth on Dec 25 was 0.0 inches and the deepest was 0 inches. New snow was falling (0.1" or more) on Christmas Day itself in 0% 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 2 (6%). Red line: Dec 25.

First and last freeze dates in Albuquerque

Threshold	Event	Median date	Typical range (10th–90th pct)	Earliest / latest	Years with one
32°F or colder (freeze)	First in fall	Nov 3	Oct 25 – Nov 18	Oct 18 (1999) / Nov 22 (2007)	100%
32°F or colder (freeze)	Last in spring	Apr 7	Mar 20 – Apr 29	–	100%
28°F or colder (hard freeze)	First in fall	Nov 16	Oct 29 – Nov 28	Oct 21 (1996) / Dec 11 (2021)	100%
28°F or colder (hard freeze)	Last in spring	Mar 20	Feb 27 – Apr 7	–	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 207 days.

Nearby weather stations

Source station: Albuquerque Intl Ap (USW00023050), elevation 5,310 ft. Data: NOAA NCEI GHCN-Daily. Computed by First Snow Dates; how we calculate this. Historical averages only; for a forecast see weather.gov.

Planning for winter? Heat pump vs gas furnace, propane and oil: heating cost in New Mexico (on our sister site PlugVsPump, from EIA prices).