Home › Virginia › Roanoke

When does it first snow in Roanoke, VA?

At Roanoke, the typical date of the first measurable snowfall (0.1 inch or more in a day) is Dec 22. 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 Nov 26, and in 1 in 10 not until Jan 20 or later. The earliest was Nov 13 (1995-96) and the latest Mar 12 (2022-23). A first snowfall of at least 1 inch in a single day typically arrives around Jan 7, and 97% of seasons had one. The first freeze of fall (a low of 32°F or colder) typically comes around Nov 3, and the last freeze of spring around Apr 3.

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.

Dec 22Median first measurable snow (0.1"+)

Jan 7Median first 1"+ snowfall

13.8"Average snowfall per season

10%Chance of white Christmas (1"+ on ground Dec 25)

Nov 3Median first fall freeze (≤32°F)

Apr 3Median last spring freeze (≤32°F)

207Median freeze-free days between

First snowfall dates at Roanoke

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)	Dec 22	Nov 26 – Jan 20	Nov 13 (1995-96)	Mar 12 (2022-23)	100%
1" of snow or more	Jan 7	Dec 5 – Feb 8	Dec 4 (2002-03)	Mar 1 (2008-09)	97%
3" of snow or more	Jan 17	Dec 8 – Feb 18	Dec 4 (2002-03)	Mar 12 (2017-18)	83%

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)	0%	13%	57%
1"+	0%	0%	37%

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

White Christmas odds in Roanoke

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, Roanoke had that in 10% of years, at least 3 inches in 3%, and at least 6 inches in 0%. The average depth on Dec 25 was 0.2 inches and the deepest was 5 inches. New snow was falling (0.1" or more) on Christmas Day itself in 10% 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 20 (17%). Red line: Dec 25.

First and last freeze dates in Roanoke

Threshold	Event	Median date	Typical range (10th–90th pct)	Earliest / latest	Years with one
32°F or colder (freeze)	First in fall	Nov 3	Oct 18 – Nov 14	Oct 3 (2003) / Nov 27 (2024)	100%
32°F or colder (freeze)	Last in spring	Apr 3	Mar 22 – Apr 16	–	100%
28°F or colder (hard freeze)	First in fall	Nov 13	Nov 2 – Dec 4	Oct 23 (1997) / Dec 19 (2020)	100%
28°F or colder (hard freeze)	Last in spring	Mar 18	Mar 6 – Apr 2	–	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 207 days.

Nearby weather stations

Source station: Roanoke-Blacksburg Rgnl Ap (USW00013741), elevation 1,138 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 Virginia (on our sister site PlugVsPump, from EIA prices).