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When does it first snow in Buffalo, NY?

At Buffalo, the typical date of the first measurable snowfall (0.1 inch or more in a day) is Nov 10. 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 25, and in 1 in 10 not until Nov 30 or later. The earliest was Oct 12 (2006-07) and the latest Dec 18 (2015-16). A first snowfall of at least 1 inch in a single day typically arrives around Nov 21, and 100% 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 25.

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 10Median first measurable snow (0.1"+)

Nov 21Median first 1"+ snowfall

96.0"Average snowfall per season

63%Chance of white Christmas (1"+ on ground Dec 25)

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

Apr 25Median last spring freeze (≤32°F)

188Median freeze-free days between

First snowfall dates at Buffalo

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 10	Oct 25 – Nov 30	Oct 12 (2006-07)	Dec 18 (2015-16)	100%
1" of snow or more	Nov 21	Nov 10 – Dec 14	Oct 12 (2006-07)	Jan 1 (2015-16)	100%
3" of snow or more	Dec 2	Nov 14 – Jan 7	Oct 12 (2006-07)	Jan 14 (2023-24)	100%

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)	23%	90%	100%
1"+	3%	67%	97%

In spring, the last measurable snowfall of the season typically falls around Apr 13 (median).

White Christmas odds in Buffalo

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, Buffalo had that in 63% of years, at least 3 inches in 30%, and at least 6 inches in 20%. The average depth on Dec 25 was 3.6 inches and the deepest was 27 inches. New snow was falling (0.1" or more) on Christmas Day itself in 47% 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 23 (81%). Red line: Dec 25.

First and last freeze dates in Buffalo

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 12 – Nov 7	Oct 3 (2003) / Nov 16 (2005)	100%
32°F or colder (freeze)	Last in spring	Apr 25	Apr 13 – Apr 30	–	100%
28°F or colder (hard freeze)	First in fall	Nov 12	Nov 1 – Nov 24	Oct 26 (1997) / Dec 8 (2001)	100%
28°F or colder (hard freeze)	Last in spring	Apr 11	Mar 30 – Apr 24	–	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 188 days.

Nearby weather stations

Source station: Buffalo (USW00014733), elevation 790 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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