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When does it first snow in Asheville, NC?

At Asheville, the typical date of the first measurable snowfall (0.1 inch or more in a day) is Dec 2. 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 Nov 2, and in 1 in 10 not until Jan 7 or later. The earliest was Oct 28 (2008-09) and the latest Jan 19 (2023-24). A first snowfall of at least 1 inch in a single day typically arrives around Dec 22, and 80% of seasons had one. The first freeze of fall (a low of 32°F or colder) typically comes around Oct 30, and the last freeze of spring around Apr 10.

Dec 2Median first measurable snow (0.1"+)

Dec 22Median first 1"+ snowfall

10.6"Average snowfall per season

10%Chance of white Christmas (1"+ on ground Dec 25)

Oct 30Median first fall freeze (≤32°F)

Apr 10Median last spring freeze (≤32°F)

201Median freeze-free days between

First snowfall dates at Asheville

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)	Dec 2	Nov 2 – Jan 7	Oct 28 (2008-09)	Jan 19 (2023-24)	100%
1" of snow or more	Dec 22	Nov 27 – Jan 30	Nov 1 (2014-15)	Feb 20 (2019-20)	80%
3" of snow or more	Jan 6	Dec 2 – Feb 16	Nov 19 (2000-01)	Mar 1 (2008-09)	57%

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)	7%	47%	80%
1"+	0%	13%	43%

In spring, the last measurable snowfall of the season typically falls around Mar 12 (median).

White Christmas odds in Asheville

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, Asheville had that in 10% of years, at least 3 inches in 3%, and at least 6 inches in 3%. The average depth on Dec 25 was 0.3 inches and the deepest was 7 inches. New snow was falling (0.1" or more) on Christmas Day itself in 13% 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 27 (13%). Red line: Dec 25.

First and last freeze dates in Asheville

Threshold	Event	Median date	Typical range (10th–90th pct)	Earliest / latest	Years with one
32°F or colder (freeze)	First in fall	Oct 30	Oct 18 – Nov 9	Oct 8 (2001) / Nov 21 (2024)	100%
32°F or colder (freeze)	Last in spring	Apr 10	Mar 22 – Apr 25	–	100%
28°F or colder (hard freeze)	First in fall	Nov 13	Oct 26 – Nov 27	Oct 18 (2001) / Dec 6 (2009)	100%
28°F or colder (hard freeze)	Last in spring	Mar 25	Mar 7 – Apr 10	–	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 201 days.

Nearby weather stations

Source station: Asheville (USW00013872), elevation 2,238 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 North Carolina (on our sister site PlugVsPump, from EIA prices).