Home › Nebraska › Lincoln

When does it first snow in Lincoln, NE?

At Lincoln, the typical date of the first measurable snowfall (0.1 inch or more in a day) is Nov 28. 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 25, and in 1 in 10 not until Dec 19 or later. The earliest was Oct 10 (2009-10) and the latest Jan 4 (2024-25). A first snowfall of at least 1 inch in a single day typically arrives around Dec 9, and 100% of seasons had one. The first freeze of fall (a low of 32°F or colder) typically comes around Oct 11, and the last freeze of spring around Apr 25.

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 28Median first measurable snow (0.1"+)

Dec 9Median first 1"+ snowfall

25.2"Average snowfall per season

38%Chance of white Christmas (1"+ on ground Dec 25)

Oct 11Median first fall freeze (≤32°F)

Apr 25Median last spring freeze (≤32°F)

168Median freeze-free days between

First snowfall dates at Lincoln

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 28	Oct 25 – Dec 19	Oct 10 (2009-10)	Jan 4 (2024-25)	100%
1" of snow or more	Dec 9	Oct 25 – Jan 2	Oct 10 (2009-10)	Feb 12 (2024-25)	100%
3" of snow or more	Dec 30	Nov 22 – Mar 6	Oct 14 (2018-19)	Apr 16 (2019-20)	90%

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%	55%	97%
1"+	17%	34%	86%

In spring, the last measurable snowfall of the season typically falls around Mar 14 (median).

White Christmas odds in Lincoln

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, Lincoln had that in 38% of years, at least 3 inches in 17%, and at least 6 inches in 7%. The average depth on Dec 25 was 1.4 inches and the deepest was 11 inches. New snow was falling (0.1" or more) on Christmas Day itself in 17% of years. Based on 29 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 Feb 7 (50%). Red line: Dec 25.

First and last freeze dates in Lincoln

Threshold	Event	Median date	Typical range (10th–90th pct)	Earliest / latest	Years with one
32°F or colder (freeze)	First in fall	Oct 11	Sep 28 – Oct 21	Sep 21 (1999) / Oct 27 (2023)	100%
32°F or colder (freeze)	Last in spring	Apr 25	Apr 15 – May 6	–	100%
28°F or colder (hard freeze)	First in fall	Oct 22	Oct 6 – Nov 1	Sep 22 (1995) / Nov 9 (2016)	100%
28°F or colder (hard freeze)	Last in spring	Apr 17	Apr 9 – Apr 27	–	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 168 days.

Nearby weather stations

Source station: Lincoln Ap (USW00014939), elevation 1,170 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 Nebraska (on our sister site PlugVsPump, from EIA prices).