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When does it first snow in Clayton, NM?

At Clayton, the typical date of the first measurable snowfall (0.1 inch or more in a day) is Nov 17. 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 Dec 9 or later. The earliest was Oct 14 (2018-19) and the latest Jan 1 (2021-22). A first snowfall of at least 1 inch in a single day typically arrives around Nov 25, and 95% of seasons had one. The first freeze of fall (a low of 32°F or colder) typically comes around Oct 15, 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; 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.

Nov 17Median first measurable snow (0.1"+)

Nov 25Median first 1"+ snowfall

21.4"Average snowfall per season

Oct 15Median first fall freeze (≤32°F)

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

174Median freeze-free days between

First snowfall dates at Clayton

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 17	Oct 25 – Dec 9	Oct 14 (2018-19)	Jan 1 (2021-22)	100%
1" of snow or more	Nov 25	Oct 28 – Jan 1	Oct 26 (2011-12)	Feb 15 (2022-23)	95%
3" of snow or more	Dec 31	Nov 9 – Mar 3	Oct 26 (2020-21)	Mar 20 (2005-06)	71%

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)	24%	81%	95%
1"+	19%	57%	81%

In spring, the last measurable snowfall of the season typically falls around Apr 4 (median).

First and last freeze dates in Clayton

Threshold	Event	Median date	Typical range (10th–90th pct)	Earliest / latest	Years with one
32°F or colder (freeze)	First in fall	Oct 15	Oct 6 – Oct 28	Sep 9 (2020) / Oct 31 (2015)	100%
32°F or colder (freeze)	Last in spring	Apr 25	Apr 10 – May 4	–	100%
28°F or colder (hard freeze)	First in fall	Oct 31	Oct 10 – Nov 11	Sep 29 (1999) / Nov 19 (2024)	100%
28°F or colder (hard freeze)	Last in spring	Apr 14	Apr 2 – Apr 21	–	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 174 days.

Nearby weather stations

Source station: Clayton Muni Air Pk (USW00023051), elevation 4,969 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 New Mexico (on our sister site PlugVsPump, from EIA prices).