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When does it first snow in Cape Hatteras, NC?

At Cape Hatteras, the typical date of the first measurable snowfall (0.1 inch or more in a day) is Jan 23. 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 Jan 3, and in 1 in 10 not until Feb 20 or later. The earliest was Dec 20 (2004-05) and the latest Feb 24 (2014-15). A first snowfall of at least 1 inch in a single day typically arrives around Jan 22, and 30% of seasons had one. The first freeze of fall (a low of 32°F or colder) typically comes around Dec 11, and the last freeze of spring around Mar 6.

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 23Median first measurable snow (0.1"+)

Jan 22Median first 1"+ snowfall

1.2"Average snowfall per season

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

Dec 11Median first fall freeze (≤32°F)

Mar 6Median last spring freeze (≤32°F)

280Median freeze-free days between

First snowfall dates at Cape Hatteras

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 23	Jan 3 – Feb 20	Dec 20 (2004-05)	Feb 24 (2014-15)	33%
1" of snow or more	Jan 22	Jan 1 – Feb 14	Dec 20 (2004-05)	Feb 24 (2014-15)	30%
3" of snow or more	Jan 23	Jan 22 – Feb 7	Jan 22 (2010-11)	Feb 11 (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%	3%
1"+	0%	0%	3%

In spring, the last measurable snowfall of the season typically falls around Jan 23 (median).

White Christmas odds in Cape Hatteras

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, Cape Hatteras 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 Cape Hatteras

Threshold	Event	Median date	Typical range (10th–90th pct)	Earliest / latest	Years with one
32°F or colder (freeze)	First in fall	Dec 11	Nov 22 – Dec 21	Nov 18 (1997) / Dec 25 (1999)	87%
32°F or colder (freeze)	Last in spring	Mar 6	Feb 18 – Mar 23	–	100%
28°F or colder (hard freeze)	Last in spring	Feb 11	Jan 8 – Mar 11	–	90%

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 280 days.

Nearby weather stations

Source station: Cape Hatteras - Billy Mitchell (USW00093729), elevation 12 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).