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When does it first snow in Rockford, IL?

At Rockford, the typical date of the first measurable snowfall (0.1 inch or more in a day) is Nov 20. 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 10, and in 1 in 10 not until Dec 9 or later. The earliest was Oct 29 (2019-20) and the latest Dec 31 (1998-99). A first snowfall of at least 1 inch in a single day typically arrives around Dec 4, and 100% of seasons had one. The first freeze of fall (a low of 32°F or colder) typically comes around Oct 14, 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 20Median first measurable snow (0.1"+)

Dec 4Median first 1"+ snowfall

34.9"Average snowfall per season

Oct 14Median first fall freeze (≤32°F)

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

170Median freeze-free days between

First snowfall dates at Rockford

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 20	Nov 10 – Dec 9	Oct 29 (2019-20)	Dec 31 (1998-99)	100%
1" of snow or more	Dec 4	Nov 14 – Jan 3	Oct 31 (2019-20)	Jan 16 (2001-02)	100%
3" of snow or more	Dec 30	Nov 26 – Feb 8	Oct 31 (2019-20)	Mar 4 (2002-03)	100%

Based on 28 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)	7%	71%	100%
1"+	4%	43%	86%

In spring, the last measurable snowfall of the season typically falls around Mar 30 (median).

First and last freeze dates in Rockford

Threshold	Event	Median date	Typical range (10th–90th pct)	Earliest / latest	Years with one
32°F or colder (freeze)	First in fall	Oct 14	Oct 4 – Oct 28	Sep 22 (1995) / Nov 11 (2016)	100%
32°F or colder (freeze)	Last in spring	Apr 27	Apr 16 – May 11	–	100%
28°F or colder (hard freeze)	First in fall	Oct 24	Oct 7 – Nov 3	Oct 1 (2003) / Nov 12 (2016)	100%
28°F or colder (hard freeze)	Last in spring	Apr 13	Apr 3 – Apr 26	–	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 170 days.

Nearby weather stations

Source station: Rockford Gtr Rockford Ap (USW00094822), elevation 725 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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