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When does it first snow in Fayetteville, AR?

At Fayetteville, the typical date of the first measurable snowfall (0.1 inch or more in a day) is Dec 24. 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 Nov 12, and in 1 in 10 not until Feb 3 or later. The earliest was Nov 10 (1995-96) and the latest Feb 19 (2005-06). A first snowfall of at least 1 inch in a single day typically arrives around Jan 12, and 73% of seasons had one. The first freeze of fall (a low of 32°F or colder) typically comes around Oct 21, and the last freeze of spring around Apr 15.

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.

Dec 24Median first measurable snow (0.1"+)

Jan 12Median first 1"+ snowfall

7.9"Average snowfall per season

Oct 21Median first fall freeze (≤32°F)

Apr 15Median last spring freeze (≤32°F)

190Median freeze-free days between

First snowfall dates at Fayetteville

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)	Dec 24	Nov 12 – Feb 3	Nov 10 (1995-96)	Feb 19 (2005-06)	93%
1" of snow or more	Jan 12	Nov 26 – Feb 15	Nov 10 (1995-96)	Feb 20 (2012-13)	73%
3" of snow or more	Jan 14	Dec 17 – Feb 26	Dec 6 (2013-14)	Mar 13 (1998-99)	50%

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)	0%	17%	53%
1"+	0%	10%	30%

In spring, the last measurable snowfall of the season typically falls around Feb 15 (median).

First and last freeze dates in Fayetteville

Threshold	Event	Median date	Typical range (10th–90th pct)	Earliest / latest	Years with one
32°F or colder (freeze)	First in fall	Oct 21	Oct 8 – Nov 5	Oct 2 (2003) / Nov 8 (2015)	100%
32°F or colder (freeze)	Last in spring	Apr 15	Apr 4 – Apr 23	–	100%
28°F or colder (hard freeze)	First in fall	Nov 1	Oct 18 – Nov 21	Oct 8 (2000) / Nov 26 (2020)	100%
28°F or colder (hard freeze)	Last in spring	Apr 4	Mar 11 – Apr 16	–	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 190 days.

Nearby weather stations

Source station: Fayetteville Drake Fld (USW00093993), elevation 1,237 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 Arkansas (on our sister site PlugVsPump, from EIA prices).