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When does it first snow in Duluth, MN?

At Duluth, the typical date of the first measurable snowfall (0.1 inch or more in a day) is Oct 27. 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 7, and in 1 in 10 not until Nov 15 or later. The earliest was Sep 21 (1995-96) and the latest Nov 26 (2004-05). A first snowfall of at least 1 inch in a single day typically arrives around Nov 8, and 100% of seasons had one. The first freeze of fall (a low of 32°F or colder) typically comes around Oct 2, and the last freeze of spring around May 13.

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.

Oct 27Median first measurable snow (0.1"+)

Nov 8Median first 1"+ snowfall

87.4"Average snowfall per season

93%Chance of white Christmas (1"+ on ground Dec 25)

Oct 2Median first fall freeze (≤32°F)

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

140Median freeze-free days between

First snowfall dates at Duluth

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 27	Oct 7 – Nov 15	Sep 21 (1995-96)	Nov 26 (2004-05)	100%
1" of snow or more	Nov 8	Oct 13 – Nov 23	Oct 10 (2009-10)	Dec 5 (2008-09)	100%
3" of snow or more	Nov 22	Oct 25 – Jan 2	Oct 20 (2020-21)	Mar 24 (2023-24)	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)	70%	100%	100%
1"+	47%	93%	100%

In spring, the last measurable snowfall of the season typically falls around Apr 25 (median).

White Christmas odds in Duluth

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, Duluth had that in 93% of years, at least 3 inches in 80%, and at least 6 inches in 40%. The average depth on Dec 25 was 8.7 inches and the deepest was 26 inches. New snow was falling (0.1" or more) on Christmas Day itself in 30% 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 3 (100%). Red line: Dec 25.

First and last freeze dates in Duluth

Threshold	Event	Median date	Typical range (10th–90th pct)	Earliest / latest	Years with one
32°F or colder (freeze)	First in fall	Oct 2	Sep 21 – Oct 16	Sep 12 (2007) / Oct 24 (2019)	100%
32°F or colder (freeze)	Last in spring	May 13	Apr 28 – May 29	–	100%
28°F or colder (hard freeze)	First in fall	Oct 10	Sep 25 – Oct 28	Sep 15 (2007) / Nov 18 (2016)	100%
28°F or colder (hard freeze)	Last in spring	Apr 28	Apr 14 – May 13	–	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 140 days.

Nearby weather stations

Source station: Duluth (USW00014913), elevation 1,542 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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