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When does it first snow in Lander, WY?

At Lander, the typical date of the first measurable snowfall (0.1 inch or more in a day) is Oct 7. 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 21, and in 1 in 10 not until Nov 9 or later. The earliest was Sep 7 (2020-21) and the latest Nov 17 (2016-17). A first snowfall of at least 1 inch in a single day typically arrives around Oct 9, and 100% of seasons had one. The first freeze of fall (a low of 32°F or colder) typically comes around Sep 30, and the last freeze of spring around May 15.

This season so far (2026-27, data through Oct 16, 2026): no measurable snow recorded yet; first freeze (32°F or colder) Oct 16 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 7Median first measurable snow (0.1"+)

Oct 9Median first 1"+ snowfall

83.8"Average snowfall per season

Sep 30Median first fall freeze (≤32°F)

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

133Median freeze-free days between

First snowfall dates at Lander

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 7	Sep 21 – Nov 9	Sep 7 (2020-21)	Nov 17 (2016-17)	100%
1" of snow or more	Oct 9	Sep 21 – Nov 12	Sep 7 (2020-21)	Nov 25 (2001-02)	100%
3" of snow or more	Oct 23	Sep 30 – Nov 27	Sep 17 (2003-04)	Jan 11 (2012-13)	100%

Based on 28 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)	82%	100%	100%
1"+	79%	100%	100%

In spring, the last measurable snowfall of the season typically falls around May 10 (median).

First and last freeze dates in Lander

Threshold	Event	Median date	Typical range (10th–90th pct)	Earliest / latest	Years with one
32°F or colder (freeze)	First in fall	Sep 30	Sep 16 – Oct 14	Sep 7 (2020) / Oct 25 (2010)	100%
32°F or colder (freeze)	Last in spring	May 15	May 7 – May 31	–	100%
28°F or colder (hard freeze)	First in fall	Oct 10	Sep 22 – Oct 26	Sep 8 (2020) / Oct 28 (2015)	100%
28°F or colder (hard freeze)	Last in spring	May 3	Apr 19 – May 15	–	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 133 days.

Nearby weather stations

Source station: Lander Ap (USW00024021), elevation 5,572 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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