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When does it first snow in Amarillo, TX?

At Amarillo, the typical date of the first measurable snowfall (0.1 inch or more in a day) is Nov 27. 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 16 or later. The earliest was Oct 21 (1996-97) and the latest Jan 7 (2024-25). A first snowfall of at least 1 inch in a single day typically arrives around Nov 29, and 97% of seasons had one. The first freeze of fall (a low of 32°F or colder) typically comes around Oct 26, and the last freeze of spring around Apr 16.
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 27Median first measurable snow (0.1"+)
Nov 29Median first 1"+ snowfall
17.2"Average snowfall per season
13%Chance of white Christmas (1"+ on ground Dec 25)
Oct 26Median first fall freeze (≤32°F)
Apr 16Median last spring freeze (≤32°F)
194Median freeze-free days between

First snowfall dates at Amarillo

First day with…Median dateTypical range (10th–90th pct)Earliest in 30 seasonsLatest in 30 seasonsSeasons with one
0.1" of snow or more (measurable)Nov 27Oct 27 – Dec 16Oct 21 (1996-97)Jan 7 (2024-25)97%
1" of snow or moreNov 29Oct 27 – Jan 20Oct 21 (1996-97)Mar 13 (2008-09)97%
3" of snow or moreDec 4Oct 29 – Feb 9Oct 24 (2019-20)Mar 27 (2008-09)77%

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

SnowfallBy Nov 1By Dec 1By Jan 1
0.1"+ (measurable)13%60%90%
1"+13%50%70%

In spring, the last measurable snowfall of the season typically falls around Mar 25 (median).

White Christmas odds in Amarillo

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, Amarillo had that in 13% of years, at least 3 inches in 10%, and at least 6 inches in 0%. The average depth on Dec 25 was 0.4 inches and the deepest was 5 inches. New snow was falling (0.1" or more) on Christmas Day itself in 10% 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 dateNov 1Dec 1Dec 25Jan 15Feb 15Mar 15Apr 100%25%50%75%100%

Share of the last 30 years with 1"+ snow depth within 3 days of each date. Snow cover is most likely around Dec 25 (15%). Red line: Dec 25.

First and last freeze dates in Amarillo

ThresholdEventMedian dateTypical range (10th–90th pct)Earliest / latestYears with one
32°F or colder (freeze)First in fallOct 26Oct 11 – Nov 8Oct 7 (2000) / Nov 12 (2016)100%
32°F or colder (freeze)Last in springApr 16Apr 1 – Apr 29–100%
28°F or colder (hard freeze)First in fallNov 5Oct 24 – Nov 19Oct 10 (2009) / Nov 29 (2024)100%
28°F or colder (hard freeze)Last in springApr 2Mar 17 – Apr 15–100%

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 194 days.

Nearby weather stations

Source station: Amarillo (USW00023047), elevation 3,703 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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