Home › Nebraska › Scottsbluff

When does it first snow in Scottsbluff, NE?

At Scottsbluff, the typical date of the first measurable snowfall (0.1 inch or more in a day) is Oct 30. 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 2, and in 1 in 10 not until Nov 20 or later. The earliest was Sep 20 (1995-96) and the latest Nov 25 (2001-02). A first snowfall of at least 1 inch in a single day typically arrives around Nov 1, and 100% of seasons had one. The first freeze of fall (a low of 32°F or colder) typically comes around Oct 3, and the last freeze of spring around May 11.

This season so far (2026-27, data through Oct 15, 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.

Oct 30Median first measurable snow (0.1"+)

Nov 1Median first 1"+ snowfall

41.4"Average snowfall per season

40%Chance of white Christmas (1"+ on ground Dec 25)

Oct 3Median first fall freeze (≤32°F)

May 11Median last spring freeze (≤32°F)

142Median freeze-free days between

First snowfall dates at Scottsbluff

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)	Oct 30	Oct 2 – Nov 20	Sep 20 (1995-96)	Nov 25 (2001-02)	100%
1" of snow or more	Nov 1	Oct 7 – Nov 28	Sep 23 (2000-01)	Jan 4 (2024-25)	100%
3" of snow or more	Nov 26	Oct 9 – Jan 11	Sep 24 (2000-01)	Feb 17 (1999-00)	100%

Based on 29 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)	55%	100%	100%
1"+	48%	90%	97%

In spring, the last measurable snowfall of the season typically falls around Apr 21 (median).

White Christmas odds in Scottsbluff

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, Scottsbluff had that in 40% of years, at least 3 inches in 17%, and at least 6 inches in 7%. The average depth on Dec 25 was 1.4 inches and the deepest was 14 inches. New snow was falling (0.1" or more) on Christmas Day itself in 33% 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 7 (42%). Red line: Dec 25.

First and last freeze dates in Scottsbluff

Threshold	Event	Median date	Typical range (10th–90th pct)	Earliest / latest	Years with one
32°F or colder (freeze)	First in fall	Oct 3	Sep 21 – Oct 9	Sep 10 (2020) / Oct 24 (2015)	100%
32°F or colder (freeze)	Last in spring	May 11	May 1 – May 22	–	100%
28°F or colder (hard freeze)	First in fall	Oct 11	Sep 28 – Oct 22	Sep 21 (1995) / Oct 31 (2024)	100%
28°F or colder (hard freeze)	Last in spring	May 2	Apr 13 – May 12	–	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 142 days.

Nearby weather stations

Source station: Scottsbluff W B Heilig Fld Ap (USW00024028), elevation 3,957 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 Nebraska (on our sister site PlugVsPump, from EIA prices).