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When does it first snow in Ely, NV?

At Ely, the typical date of the first measurable snowfall (0.1 inch or more in a day) is Oct 23. 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 4, and in 1 in 10 not until Nov 22 or later. The earliest was Sep 21 (2017-18) and the latest Dec 7 (1999-00). A first snowfall of at least 1 inch in a single day typically arrives around Nov 1, and 100% of seasons had one. The first freeze of fall (a low of 32°F or colder) typically comes around Sep 10, and the last freeze of spring around Jun 18.

This season so far (2026-27, data through Oct 16, 2026): no measurable snow recorded yet; first freeze (32°F or colder) Sep 20 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 23Median first measurable snow (0.1"+)

Nov 1Median first 1"+ snowfall

56.7"Average snowfall per season

Sep 10Median first fall freeze (≤32°F)

Jun 18Median last spring freeze (≤32°F)

84Median freeze-free days between

First snowfall dates at Ely

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 23	Oct 4 – Nov 22	Sep 21 (2017-18)	Dec 7 (1999-00)	100%
1" of snow or more	Nov 1	Oct 4 – Dec 5	Sep 21 (2017-18)	Feb 21 (1999-00)	100%
3" of snow or more	Nov 15	Oct 8 – Jan 5	Sep 21 (2017-18)	Feb 21 (1999-00)	96%

Based on 27 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)	63%	96%	100%
1"+	48%	89%	96%

In spring, the last measurable snowfall of the season typically falls around Apr 30 (median).

First and last freeze dates in Ely

Threshold	Event	Median date	Typical range (10th–90th pct)	Earliest / latest	Years with one
32°F or colder (freeze)	First in fall	Sep 10	Aug 27 – Sep 23	Aug 7 (2009) / Oct 6 (2012)	100%
32°F or colder (freeze)	Last in spring	Jun 18	Jun 8 – Jun 25	–	100%
28°F or colder (hard freeze)	First in fall	Sep 22	Sep 9 – Oct 12	Sep 2 (2008) / Oct 27 (2015)	100%
28°F or colder (hard freeze)	Last in spring	May 31	May 9 – Jun 20	–	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 84 days.

Nearby weather stations

Source station: Ely Ap (USW00023154), elevation 6,250 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 Nevada (on our sister site PlugVsPump, from EIA prices).