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When does it first snow in Bishop, CA?

At Bishop, the typical date of the first measurable snowfall (0.1 inch or more in a day) is Dec 25. 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 5, and in 1 in 10 not until Feb 9 or later. The earliest was Nov 27 (2019-20) and the latest Feb 23 (2017-18). A first snowfall of at least 1 inch in a single day typically arrives around Dec 25, and 63% of seasons had one. The first freeze of fall (a low of 32°F or colder) typically comes around Oct 14, and the last freeze of spring around May 1.

This season so far (2026-27, data through Oct 16, 2026): no measurable snow recorded yet; first freeze (32°F or colder) Oct 16 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.

Dec 25Median first measurable snow (0.1"+)

Dec 25Median first 1"+ snowfall

5.0"Average snowfall per season

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

Oct 14Median first fall freeze (≤32°F)

May 1Median last spring freeze (≤32°F)

166Median freeze-free days between

First snowfall dates at Bishop

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 25	Dec 5 – Feb 9	Nov 27 (2019-20)	Feb 23 (2017-18)	77%
1" of snow or more	Dec 25	Dec 4 – Feb 2	Nov 27 (2019-20)	Feb 13 (2024-25)	63%
3" of snow or more	Jan 22	Nov 29 – Jan 30	Nov 27 (2019-20)	Feb 11 (2000-01)	30%

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%	7%	47%
1"+	0%	7%	40%

In spring, the last measurable snowfall of the season typically falls around Jan 28 (median).

White Christmas odds in Bishop

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, Bishop 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 10% of years. Based on 27 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 Dec 29 (8%). Red line: Dec 25.

First and last freeze dates in Bishop

Threshold	Event	Median date	Typical range (10th–90th pct)	Earliest / latest	Years with one
32°F or colder (freeze)	First in fall	Oct 14	Sep 30 – Oct 27	Sep 22 (2017) / Nov 4 (2015)	100%
32°F or colder (freeze)	Last in spring	May 1	Apr 14 – May 27	–	100%
28°F or colder (hard freeze)	First in fall	Oct 26	Oct 10 – Nov 5	Sep 30 (2019) / Nov 15 (2016)	100%
28°F or colder (hard freeze)	Last in spring	Apr 13	Mar 30 – May 14	–	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 166 days.

Nearby weather stations

Source station: Bishop Ap (USW00023157), elevation 4,110 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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