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When does it first snow in Kotzebue, AK?

At Kotzebue, the typical date of the first measurable snowfall (0.1 inch or more in a day) is Oct 3. 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 Sep 23, and in 1 in 10 not until Oct 15 or later. The earliest was Sep 8 (2002-03) and the latest Nov 6 (1999-00). A first snowfall of at least 1 inch in a single day typically arrives around Oct 26, and 100% of seasons had one. The first freeze of fall (a low of 32°F or colder) typically comes around Sep 23, and the last freeze of spring around Jun 7.

This fall so far (data through Oct 16, 2026): first freeze (32°F or colder) Sep 20 at this station. Observed data, can lag a day or two.

Oct 3Median first measurable snow (0.1"+)

Oct 26Median first 1"+ snowfall

67.7"Average snowfall per season

Sep 23Median first fall freeze (≤32°F)

Jun 7Median last spring freeze (≤32°F)

108Median freeze-free days between

First snowfall dates at Kotzebue

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 3	Sep 23 – Oct 15	Sep 8 (2002-03)	Nov 6 (1999-00)	100%
1" of snow or more	Oct 26	Oct 12 – Nov 30	Sep 20 (1996-97)	Dec 21 (2001-02)	100%
3" of snow or more	Nov 25	Oct 25 – Jan 13	Sep 20 (1996-97)	Feb 2 (2018-19)	92%

Based on 24 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)	96%	100%	100%
1"+	71%	88%	100%

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

First and last freeze dates in Kotzebue

Threshold	Event	Median date	Typical range (10th–90th pct)	Earliest / latest	Years with one
32°F or colder (freeze)	First in fall	Sep 23	Sep 13 – Oct 1	Aug 26 (1996) / Oct 15 (2018)	100%
32°F or colder (freeze)	Last in spring	Jun 7	May 26 – Jun 15	–	100%
28°F or colder (hard freeze)	First in fall	Oct 1	Sep 19 – Oct 16	Sep 12 (1996) / Oct 22 (2006)	100%
28°F or colder (hard freeze)	Last in spring	May 24	May 7 – Jun 4	–	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 108 days.

Nearby weather stations

Source station: Kotzebue Ap (USW00026616), elevation 11 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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