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When does it first snow in Salt Lake City, UT?

At Salt Lake City, the typical date of the first measurable snowfall (0.1 inch or more in a day) is Nov 8. 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 20, and in 1 in 10 not until Nov 28 or later. The earliest was Oct 11 (1997-98) and the latest Dec 9 (2021-22). A first snowfall of at least 1 inch in a single day typically arrives around Nov 24, and 100% of seasons had one. The first freeze of fall (a low of 32°F or colder) typically comes around Oct 26, and the last freeze of spring around Apr 13.

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 8Median first measurable snow (0.1"+)

Nov 24Median first 1"+ snowfall

48.2"Average snowfall per season

50%Chance of white Christmas (1"+ on ground Dec 25)

Oct 26Median first fall freeze (≤32°F)

Apr 13Median last spring freeze (≤32°F)

194Median freeze-free days between

First snowfall dates at Salt Lake City

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 8	Oct 20 – Nov 28	Oct 11 (1997-98)	Dec 9 (2021-22)	100%
1" of snow or more	Nov 24	Oct 26 – Dec 25	Oct 20 (1996-97)	Jan 4 (2024-25)	100%
3" of snow or more	Dec 2	Nov 8 – Jan 21	Nov 5 (2008-09)	Apr 15 (2014-15)	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)	37%	93%	100%
1"+	13%	70%	97%

In spring, the last measurable snowfall of the season typically falls around Apr 12 (median).

White Christmas odds in Salt Lake City

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, Salt Lake City had that in 50% of years, at least 3 inches in 20%, and at least 6 inches in 3%. The average depth on Dec 25 was 1.2 inches and the deepest was 6 inches. New snow was falling (0.1" or more) on Christmas Day itself in 40% 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 5 (57%). Red line: Dec 25.

First and last freeze dates in Salt Lake City

Threshold	Event	Median date	Typical range (10th–90th pct)	Earliest / latest	Years with one
32°F or colder (freeze)	First in fall	Oct 26	Oct 13 – Nov 7	Oct 10 (2008) / Nov 17 (2021)	100%
32°F or colder (freeze)	Last in spring	Apr 13	Apr 2 – May 3	–	100%
28°F or colder (hard freeze)	First in fall	Nov 7	Oct 26 – Nov 23	Oct 20 (1996) / Nov 29 (2016)	100%
28°F or colder (hard freeze)	Last in spring	Mar 30	Mar 4 – Apr 16	–	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 194 days.

Nearby weather stations

Source station: Salt Lake City Intl Ap (USW00024127), elevation 4,227 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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