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When does it first snow in Dodge City, KS?

At Dodge City, the typical date of the first measurable snowfall (0.1 inch or more in a day) is Nov 24. 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 21, and in 1 in 10 not until Dec 13 or later. The earliest was Sep 21 (1995-96) and the latest Jan 11 (2017-18). A first snowfall of at least 1 inch in a single day typically arrives around Dec 5, and 100% of seasons had one. The first freeze of fall (a low of 32°F or colder) typically comes around Oct 18, and the last freeze of spring around Apr 19.

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 24Median first measurable snow (0.1"+)

Dec 5Median first 1"+ snowfall

18.6"Average snowfall per season

13%Chance of white Christmas (1"+ on ground Dec 25)

Oct 18Median first fall freeze (≤32°F)

Apr 19Median last spring freeze (≤32°F)

177Median freeze-free days between

First snowfall dates at Dodge City

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 24	Oct 21 – Dec 13	Sep 21 (1995-96)	Jan 11 (2017-18)	100%
1" of snow or more	Dec 5	Oct 25 – Jan 12	Sep 21 (1995-96)	Mar 27 (2008-09)	100%
3" of snow or more	Jan 4	Dec 4 – Feb 16	Oct 21 (1996-97)	Mar 27 (2008-09)	87%

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)	27%	63%	93%
1"+	13%	40%	80%

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

White Christmas odds in Dodge City

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, Dodge City had that in 13% of years, at least 3 inches in 10%, and at least 6 inches in 3%. The average depth on Dec 25 was 0.6 inches and the deepest was 12 inches. New snow was falling (0.1" or more) on Christmas Day itself in 10% 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 (24%). Red line: Dec 25.

First and last freeze dates in Dodge City

Threshold	Event	Median date	Typical range (10th–90th pct)	Earliest / latest	Years with one
32°F or colder (freeze)	First in fall	Oct 18	Oct 4 – Oct 31	Sep 21 (1995) / Nov 10 (1998)	100%
32°F or colder (freeze)	Last in spring	Apr 19	Apr 9 – May 5	–	100%
28°F or colder (hard freeze)	First in fall	Oct 27	Oct 15 – Nov 12	Oct 7 (2000) / Nov 25 (2024)	100%
28°F or colder (hard freeze)	Last in spring	Apr 13	Mar 28 – Apr 17	–	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 177 days.

Nearby weather stations

Source station: Dodge City (USW00013985), elevation 2,671 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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