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When does it first snow in Caribou, ME?

At Caribou, the typical date of the first measurable snowfall (0.1 inch or more in a day) is Oct 30. 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 19, and in 1 in 10 not until Nov 15 or later. The earliest was Oct 9 (2000-01) and the latest Nov 21 (2016-17). A first snowfall of at least 1 inch in a single day typically arrives around Nov 10, and 100% of seasons had one. The first freeze of fall (a low of 32°F or colder) typically comes around Sep 28, and the last freeze of spring around May 13.

This season so far (2026-27, data through Oct 16, 2026): first measurable snow Oct 13; first freeze (32°F or colder) Sep 23 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.

Oct 30Median first measurable snow (0.1"+)

Nov 10Median first 1"+ snowfall

120.7"Average snowfall per season

83%Chance of white Christmas (1"+ on ground Dec 25)

Sep 28Median first fall freeze (≤32°F)

May 13Median last spring freeze (≤32°F)

138Median freeze-free days between

First snowfall dates at Caribou

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)	Oct 30	Oct 19 – Nov 15	Oct 9 (2000-01)	Nov 21 (2016-17)	100%
1" of snow or more	Nov 10	Oct 25 – Nov 23	Oct 21 (2003-04)	Nov 28 (2001-02)	100%
3" of snow or more	Nov 22	Oct 27 – Dec 15	Oct 21 (2003-04)	Jan 11 (1999-00)	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)	57%	100%	100%
1"+	33%	100%	100%

In spring, the last measurable snowfall of the season typically falls around Apr 24 (median).

White Christmas odds in Caribou

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, Caribou had that in 83% of years, at least 3 inches in 73%, and at least 6 inches in 40%. The average depth on Dec 25 was 6.4 inches and the deepest was 18 inches. New snow was falling (0.1" or more) on Christmas Day itself in 27% 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 30 (100%). Red line: Dec 25.

First and last freeze dates in Caribou

Threshold	Event	Median date	Typical range (10th–90th pct)	Earliest / latest	Years with one
32°F or colder (freeze)	First in fall	Sep 28	Sep 17 – Oct 6	Sep 11 (2006) / Oct 25 (2021)	100%
32°F or colder (freeze)	Last in spring	May 13	May 2 – May 28	–	100%
28°F or colder (hard freeze)	First in fall	Oct 9	Sep 24 – Oct 29	Sep 19 (2008) / Nov 5 (2017)	100%
28°F or colder (hard freeze)	Last in spring	Apr 29	Apr 18 – May 11	–	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 138 days.

Nearby weather stations

Source station: Caribou Wfo (USW00014607), elevation 619 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 Maine (on our sister site PlugVsPump, from EIA prices).