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When does it first snow in Reno, NV?

At Reno, the typical date of the first measurable snowfall (0.1 inch or more in a day) is Nov 24. 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 20 or later. The earliest was Sep 28 (2007-08) and the latest Jan 16 (2011-12). A first snowfall of at least 1 inch in a single day typically arrives around Dec 10, and 100% of seasons had one. The first freeze of fall (a low of 32°F or colder) typically comes around Oct 18, and the last freeze of spring around Apr 21.

This season so far (2026-27, data through Oct 16, 2026): no measurable snow recorded yet; first freeze (32°F or colder) Oct 13 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 24Median first measurable snow (0.1"+)

Dec 10Median first 1"+ snowfall

20.4"Average snowfall per season

Oct 18Median first fall freeze (≤32°F)

Apr 21Median last spring freeze (≤32°F)

180Median freeze-free days between

First snowfall dates at Reno

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 24	Oct 25 – Dec 20	Sep 28 (2007-08)	Jan 16 (2011-12)	100%
1" of snow or more	Dec 10	Nov 8 – Jan 27	Oct 10 (2008-09)	Feb 15 (2011-12)	100%
3" of snow or more	Jan 8	Dec 12 – Feb 28	Nov 8 (2020-21)	Apr 3 (2008-09)	80%

Based on 20 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)	15%	60%	90%
1"+	5%	30%	75%

In spring, the last measurable snowfall of the season typically falls around Apr 4 (median).

First and last freeze dates in Reno

Threshold	Event	Median date	Typical range (10th–90th pct)	Earliest / latest	Years with one
32°F or colder (freeze)	First in fall	Oct 18	Oct 6 – Oct 30	Sep 30 (1995) / Nov 16 (2016)	100%
32°F or colder (freeze)	Last in spring	Apr 21	Apr 9 – May 18	–	100%
28°F or colder (hard freeze)	First in fall	Nov 1	Oct 17 – Nov 17	Oct 12 (1997) / Nov 21 (2021)	100%
28°F or colder (hard freeze)	Last in spring	Apr 8	Mar 7 – Apr 22	–	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 180 days.

Nearby weather stations

Source station: Reno Ap (USW00023185), elevation 4,405 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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