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When does it first snow in Chattanooga, TN?

At Chattanooga, the typical date of the first measurable snowfall (0.1 inch or more in a day) is Jan 15. 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 9, and in 1 in 10 not until Feb 5 or later. The earliest was Dec 5 (2009-10) and the latest Mar 12 (2021-22). A first snowfall of at least 1 inch in a single day typically arrives around Jan 29, and 48% of seasons had one. The first freeze of fall (a low of 32°F or colder) typically comes around Nov 7, 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 15Median first measurable snow (0.1"+)

Jan 29Median first 1"+ snowfall

2.7"Average snowfall per season

Nov 7Median first fall freeze (≤32°F)

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

227Median freeze-free days between

First snowfall dates at Chattanooga

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 15	Dec 9 – Feb 5	Dec 5 (2009-10)	Mar 12 (2021-22)	81%
1" of snow or more	Jan 29	Jan 8 – Feb 22	Dec 25 (2010-11)	Mar 12 (2021-22)	48%
3" of snow or more	Jan 29	Jan 10 – Feb 20	Jan 10 (2010-11)	Feb 25 (2014-15)	24%

Based on 21 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%	24%
1"+	0%	0%	5%

In spring, the last measurable snowfall of the season typically falls around Feb 9 (median).

First and last freeze dates in Chattanooga

Threshold	Event	Median date	Typical range (10th–90th pct)	Earliest / latest	Years with one
32°F or colder (freeze)	First in fall	Nov 7	Oct 28 – Nov 22	Oct 20 (2022) / Nov 29 (2024)	100%
32°F or colder (freeze)	Last in spring	Mar 24	Mar 7 – Apr 8	–	100%
28°F or colder (hard freeze)	First in fall	Nov 24	Nov 11 – Dec 14	Nov 2 (2023) / Dec 21 (2001)	100%
28°F or colder (hard freeze)	Last in spring	Mar 9	Feb 16 – Mar 27	–	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 227 days.

Nearby weather stations

Source station: Chattanooga Ap (USW00013882), elevation 669 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 Tennessee (on our sister site PlugVsPump, from EIA prices).