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When does it first snow in Dubuque, IA?

At Dubuque, the typical date of the first measurable snowfall (0.1 inch or more in a day) is Nov 13. 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 28, and in 1 in 10 not until Dec 4 or later. The earliest was Oct 18 (2020-21) and the latest Dec 23 (2001-02). A first snowfall of at least 1 inch in a single day typically arrives around Nov 25, and 100% of seasons had one. The first freeze of fall (a low of 32°F or colder) typically comes around Oct 11, and the last freeze of spring around Apr 29.

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 13Median first measurable snow (0.1"+)

Nov 25Median first 1"+ snowfall

41.7"Average snowfall per season

44%Chance of white Christmas (1"+ on ground Dec 25)

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

Apr 29Median last spring freeze (≤32°F)

166Median freeze-free days between

First snowfall dates at Dubuque

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 13	Oct 28 – Dec 4	Oct 18 (2020-21)	Dec 23 (2001-02)	100%
1" of snow or more	Nov 25	Nov 9 – Dec 18	Oct 26 (1997-98)	Jan 30 (2001-02)	100%
3" of snow or more	Dec 22	Nov 20 – Feb 2	Oct 26 (1997-98)	Mar 5 (2017-18)	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)	20%	73%	100%
1"+	7%	53%	93%

In spring, the last measurable snowfall of the season typically falls around Apr 6 (median).

White Christmas odds in Dubuque

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, Dubuque had that in 44% of years, at least 3 inches in 40%, and at least 6 inches in 24%. The average depth on Dec 25 was 3.5 inches and the deepest was 19 inches. New snow was falling (0.1" or more) on Christmas Day itself in 27% of years. Based on 25 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 (82%). Red line: Dec 25.

First and last freeze dates in Dubuque

Threshold	Event	Median date	Typical range (10th–90th pct)	Earliest / latest	Years with one
32°F or colder (freeze)	First in fall	Oct 11	Sep 28 – Oct 21	Sep 15 (2007) / Oct 28 (2017)	100%
32°F or colder (freeze)	Last in spring	Apr 29	Apr 17 – May 13	–	100%
28°F or colder (hard freeze)	First in fall	Oct 20	Oct 6 – Oct 30	Sep 24 (2012) / Nov 12 (2016)	100%
28°F or colder (hard freeze)	Last in spring	Apr 15	Apr 4 – Apr 29	–	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 166 days.

Nearby weather stations

Source station: Dubuque Rgnl Ap (USW00094908), elevation 1,040 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 Iowa (on our sister site PlugVsPump, from EIA prices).