Home › Nebraska › North Platte

When does it first snow in North Platte, NE?

At North Platte, the typical date of the first measurable snowfall (0.1 inch or more in a day) is Nov 2. 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 9, and in 1 in 10 not until Nov 27 or later. The earliest was Sep 20 (1995-96) and the latest Jan 4 (2024-25). A first snowfall of at least 1 inch in a single day typically arrives around Nov 16, and 100% of seasons had one. The first freeze of fall (a low of 32°F or colder) typically comes around Oct 2, and the last freeze of spring around May 15.

This season so far (2026-27, data through Oct 15, 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 2Median first measurable snow (0.1"+)

Nov 16Median first 1"+ snowfall

29.4"Average snowfall per season

23%Chance of white Christmas (1"+ on ground Dec 25)

Oct 2Median first fall freeze (≤32°F)

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

142Median freeze-free days between

First snowfall dates at North Platte

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 2	Oct 9 – Nov 27	Sep 20 (1995-96)	Jan 4 (2024-25)	100%
1" of snow or more	Nov 16	Oct 22 – Dec 19	Sep 24 (2000-01)	Jan 5 (2024-25)	100%
3" of snow or more	Dec 26	Oct 24 – Feb 11	Oct 10 (2009-10)	Mar 19 (2005-06)	100%

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)	47%	97%	97%
1"+	30%	80%	97%

In spring, the last measurable snowfall of the season typically falls around Apr 13 (median).

White Christmas odds in North Platte

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, North Platte had that in 23% of years, at least 3 inches in 10%, and at least 6 inches in 0%. The average depth on Dec 25 was 0.5 inches and the deepest was 3 inches. New snow was falling (0.1" or more) on Christmas Day itself in 27% 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 4 (40%). Red line: Dec 25.

First and last freeze dates in North Platte

Threshold	Event	Median date	Typical range (10th–90th pct)	Earliest / latest	Years with one
32°F or colder (freeze)	First in fall	Oct 2	Sep 21 – Oct 12	Sep 13 (1999) / Oct 16 (2015)	100%
32°F or colder (freeze)	Last in spring	May 15	May 2 – May 23	–	100%
28°F or colder (hard freeze)	First in fall	Oct 12	Sep 28 – Oct 23	Sep 19 (2003) / Nov 9 (2016)	100%
28°F or colder (hard freeze)	Last in spring	May 3	Apr 14 – May 14	–	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 142 days.

Nearby weather stations

Source station: N Platte Rgnl Ap (USW00024023), elevation 2,762 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).