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When does it first snow in Pembina, ND?

At Pembina, 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 5, and in 1 in 10 not until Nov 26 or later. The earliest was Oct 2 (2005-06) and the latest Dec 14 (1999-00). A first snowfall of at least 1 inch in a single day typically arrives around Nov 2, 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 19.

This season so far (2026-27, data through Oct 17, 2026): no measurable snow recorded yet; first freeze (32°F or colder) Oct 17 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 2Median first 1"+ snowfall

39.7"Average snowfall per season

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

May 19Median last spring freeze (≤32°F)

131Median freeze-free days between

First snowfall dates at Pembina

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 5 – Nov 26	Oct 2 (2005-06)	Dec 14 (1999-00)	100%
1" of snow or more	Nov 2	Oct 11 – Dec 2	Oct 2 (2005-06)	Dec 14 (1999-00)	100%
3" of snow or more	Nov 20	Oct 26 – Dec 31	Oct 11 (2019-20)	Feb 28 (1997-98)	95%

Based on 21 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)	48%	95%	100%
1"+	48%	86%	100%

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

First and last freeze dates in Pembina

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 15 – Oct 12	Aug 20 (2004) / Oct 20 (2021)	100%
32°F or colder (freeze)	Last in spring	May 19	May 7 – Jun 4	–	100%
28°F or colder (hard freeze)	First in fall	Oct 8	Sep 23 – Oct 22	Sep 20 (1999) / Oct 28 (2010)	100%
28°F or colder (hard freeze)	Last in spring	May 8	Apr 21 – 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 131 days.

Nearby weather stations

Source station: Pembina (USW00014924), elevation 790 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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