Home › Minnesota › Rochester (Minnesota)

When does it first snow in Rochester (Minnesota), MN?

At Rochester (Minnesota), 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 12, and in 1 in 10 not until Nov 20 or later. The earliest was Oct 1 (1999-00) and the latest Nov 30 (2001-02). A first snowfall of at least 1 inch in a single day typically arrives around Nov 18, and 100% of seasons had one. The first freeze of fall (a low of 32°F or colder) typically comes around Oct 8, and the last freeze of spring around Apr 27.

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 2Median first measurable snow (0.1"+)

Nov 18Median first 1"+ snowfall

50.6"Average snowfall per season

80%Chance of white Christmas (1"+ on ground Dec 25)

Oct 8Median first fall freeze (≤32°F)

Apr 27Median last spring freeze (≤32°F)

162Median freeze-free days between

First snowfall dates at Rochester (Minnesota)

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 12 – Nov 20	Oct 1 (1999-00)	Nov 30 (2001-02)	100%
1" of snow or more	Nov 18	Oct 26 – Dec 19	Oct 12 (2009-10)	Jan 13 (2002-03)	100%
3" of snow or more	Dec 10	Nov 14 – Jan 13	Oct 23 (2009-10)	Mar 24 (2023-24)	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)	43%	100%	100%
1"+	20%	57%	97%

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

White Christmas odds in Rochester (Minnesota)

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, Rochester (Minnesota) had that in 80% of years, at least 3 inches in 43%, and at least 6 inches in 27%. The average depth on Dec 25 was 5.0 inches and the deepest was 29 inches. New snow was falling (0.1" or more) on Christmas Day itself in 23% 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 30 (88%). Red line: Dec 25.

First and last freeze dates in Rochester (Minnesota)

Threshold	Event	Median date	Typical range (10th–90th pct)	Earliest / latest	Years with one
32°F or colder (freeze)	First in fall	Oct 8	Sep 21 – Oct 17	Sep 15 (2007) / Oct 25 (2017)	100%
32°F or colder (freeze)	Last in spring	Apr 27	Apr 17 – May 14	–	100%
28°F or colder (hard freeze)	First in fall	Oct 18	Oct 6 – Nov 2	Oct 1 (2003) / Nov 12 (2016)	100%
28°F or colder (hard freeze)	Last in spring	Apr 19	Apr 4 – May 4	–	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 162 days.

Nearby weather stations

Source station: Rochester Intl Ap (USW00014925), elevation 1,306 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 Minnesota (on our sister site PlugVsPump, from EIA prices).