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When does it first snow in Grand Junction, CO?

At Grand Junction, the typical date of the first measurable snowfall (0.1 inch or more in a day) is Nov 12. 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 24, and in 1 in 10 not until Dec 14 or later. The earliest was Oct 3 (2013-14) and the latest Dec 24 (2021-22). A first snowfall of at least 1 inch in a single day typically arrives around Nov 29, and 100% of seasons had one. The first freeze of fall (a low of 32°F or colder) typically comes around Oct 12, 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 12Median first measurable snow (0.1"+)

Nov 29Median first 1"+ snowfall

16.9"Average snowfall per season

40%Chance of white Christmas (1"+ on ground Dec 25)

Oct 12Median first fall freeze (≤32°F)

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

164Median freeze-free days between

First snowfall dates at Grand Junction

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 12	Oct 24 – Dec 14	Oct 3 (2013-14)	Dec 24 (2021-22)	100%
1" of snow or more	Nov 29	Nov 8 – Dec 31	Oct 22 (1995-96)	Feb 2 (2002-03)	100%
3" of snow or more	Dec 29	Nov 23 – Feb 25	Oct 25 (2020-21)	Mar 20 (1999-00)	73%

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)	33%	73%	100%
1"+	7%	53%	90%

In spring, the last measurable snowfall of the season typically falls around Mar 28 (median).

White Christmas odds in Grand Junction

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, Grand Junction had that in 40% of years, at least 3 inches in 17%, and at least 6 inches in 0%. The average depth on Dec 25 was 0.9 inches and the deepest was 5 inches. New snow was falling (0.1" or more) on Christmas Day itself in 23% 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 (44%). Red line: Dec 25.

First and last freeze dates in Grand Junction

Threshold	Event	Median date	Typical range (10th–90th pct)	Earliest / latest	Years with one
32°F or colder (freeze)	First in fall	Oct 12	Sep 29 – Oct 28	Sep 17 (2006) / Nov 1 (2024)	100%
32°F or colder (freeze)	Last in spring	Apr 29	Apr 18 – May 9	–	100%
28°F or colder (hard freeze)	First in fall	Oct 30	Oct 12 – Nov 11	Oct 1 (2009) / Nov 18 (2016)	100%
28°F or colder (hard freeze)	Last in spring	Apr 14	Apr 2 – May 1	–	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 164 days.

Nearby weather stations

Source station: Grand Junction Walker Fld (USW00023066), elevation 4,824 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 Colorado (on our sister site PlugVsPump, from EIA prices).