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When does it first snow in Birmingham, AL?

At Birmingham, the typical date of the first measurable snowfall (0.1 inch or more in a day) is Jan 13. 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 Dec 20, and in 1 in 10 not until Feb 28 or later. The earliest was Dec 8 (2017-18) and the latest Mar 8 (2007-08). A first snowfall of at least 1 inch in a single day typically arrives around Jan 17, and 30% of seasons had one. The first freeze of fall (a low of 32°F or colder) typically comes around Nov 13, and the last freeze of spring around Mar 24.

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.

Jan 13Median first measurable snow (0.1"+)

Jan 17Median first 1"+ snowfall

0.9"Average snowfall per season

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

Nov 13Median first fall freeze (≤32°F)

Mar 24Median last spring freeze (≤32°F)

231Median freeze-free days between

First snowfall dates at Birmingham

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)	Jan 13	Dec 20 – Feb 28	Dec 8 (2017-18)	Mar 8 (2007-08)	47%
1" of snow or more	Jan 17	Dec 25 – Feb 15	Dec 8 (2017-18)	Mar 1 (2008-09)	30%
3" of snow or more	Jan 28	Dec 18 – Feb 9	Dec 8 (2017-18)	Feb 12 (2013-14)	10%

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)	0%	0%	7%
1"+	0%	0%	7%

In spring, the last measurable snowfall of the season typically falls around Feb 6 (median).

White Christmas odds in Birmingham

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, Birmingham 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.

Snow cover of 1 inch or more on the ground is rare at this station in any week of the winter.

First and last freeze dates in Birmingham

Threshold	Event	Median date	Typical range (10th–90th pct)	Earliest / latest	Years with one
32°F or colder (freeze)	First in fall	Nov 13	Nov 1 – Nov 27	Oct 19 (2022) / Dec 2 (2004)	100%
32°F or colder (freeze)	Last in spring	Mar 24	Mar 6 – Apr 10	–	100%
28°F or colder (hard freeze)	First in fall	Nov 25	Nov 12 – Dec 9	Oct 28 (2001) / Dec 16 (1998)	97%
28°F or colder (hard freeze)	Last in spring	Mar 4	Feb 11 – Mar 23	–	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 231 days.

Nearby weather stations

Source station: Birmingham Ap (USW00013876), elevation 616 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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