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When does it first snow in Elkins, WV?

At Elkins, the typical date of the first measurable snowfall (0.1 inch or more in a day) is Nov 14. 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 1 or later. The earliest was Oct 24 (2005-06) and the latest Dec 12 (2017-18). A first snowfall of at least 1 inch in a single day typically arrives around Nov 22, and 100% of seasons had one. The first freeze of fall (a low of 32°F or colder) typically comes around Oct 14, and the last freeze of spring around May 9.

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 14Median first measurable snow (0.1"+)

Nov 22Median first 1"+ snowfall

63.1"Average snowfall per season

33%Chance of white Christmas (1"+ on ground Dec 25)

Oct 14Median first fall freeze (≤32°F)

May 9Median last spring freeze (≤32°F)

156Median freeze-free days between

First snowfall dates at Elkins

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 14	Oct 28 – Dec 1	Oct 24 (2005-06)	Dec 12 (2017-18)	100%
1" of snow or more	Nov 22	Nov 8 – Dec 19	Oct 29 (2011-12)	Jan 12 (2015-16)	100%
3" of snow or more	Dec 5	Nov 14 – Jan 7	Oct 29 (2012-13)	Jan 22 (2015-16)	97%

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)	23%	87%	100%
1"+	7%	67%	93%

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

White Christmas odds in Elkins

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, Elkins had that in 33% of years, at least 3 inches in 19%, and at least 6 inches in 4%. The average depth on Dec 25 was 0.9 inches and the deepest was 6 inches. New snow was falling (0.1" or more) on Christmas Day itself in 20% of years. Based on 27 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 18 (59%). Red line: Dec 25.

First and last freeze dates in Elkins

Threshold	Event	Median date	Typical range (10th–90th pct)	Earliest / latest	Years with one
32°F or colder (freeze)	First in fall	Oct 14	Oct 2 – Oct 23	Sep 22 (1999) / Nov 3 (2021)	100%
32°F or colder (freeze)	Last in spring	May 9	Apr 26 – May 23	–	100%
28°F or colder (hard freeze)	First in fall	Oct 20	Oct 9 – Nov 2	Oct 2 (2003) / Nov 12 (2016)	100%
28°F or colder (hard freeze)	Last in spring	Apr 25	Apr 8 – May 11	–	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 156 days.

Nearby weather stations

Source station: Elkins- Randolph Co Ap (USW00013729), elevation 1,955 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 West Virginia (on our sister site PlugVsPump, from EIA prices).