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When does it first snow in Erie, PA?

At Erie, 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 26, and in 1 in 10 not until Nov 23 or later. The earliest was Oct 1 (2003-04) and the latest Dec 5 (2009-10). A first snowfall of at least 1 inch in a single day typically arrives around Nov 17, and 100% of seasons had one. The first freeze of fall (a low of 32°F or colder) typically comes around Nov 5, 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 17Median first 1"+ snowfall

99.6"Average snowfall per season

Nov 5Median first fall freeze (≤32°F)

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

191Median freeze-free days between

First snowfall dates at Erie

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 26 – Nov 23	Oct 1 (2003-04)	Dec 5 (2009-10)	100%
1" of snow or more	Nov 17	Nov 4 – Dec 15	Oct 26 (2001-02)	Dec 21 (1999-00)	100%
3" of snow or more	Dec 1	Nov 10 – Dec 29	Nov 2 (2006-07)	Jan 17 (2021-22)	100%

Based on 29 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)	21%	97%	100%
1"+	7%	72%	100%

In spring, the last measurable snowfall of the season typically falls around Apr 8 (median).

First and last freeze dates in Erie

Threshold	Event	Median date	Typical range (10th–90th pct)	Earliest / latest	Years with one
32°F or colder (freeze)	First in fall	Nov 5	Oct 25 – Nov 16	Oct 8 (2001) / Nov 22 (2015)	100%
32°F or colder (freeze)	Last in spring	Apr 29	Apr 16 – May 14	–	100%
28°F or colder (hard freeze)	First in fall	Nov 17	Nov 6 – Dec 9	Oct 18 (2009) / Dec 16 (2001)	100%
28°F or colder (hard freeze)	Last in spring	Apr 7	Mar 26 – Apr 19	–	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 191 days.

Nearby weather stations

Source station: Erie Intl Ap (USW00014860), elevation 729 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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