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When does it first snow in Sioux City, IA?

At Sioux City, the typical date of the first measurable snowfall (0.1 inch or more in a day) is Nov 11. 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 18, and in 1 in 10 not until Dec 1 or later. The earliest was Oct 10 (2009-10) and the latest Dec 22 (2001-02). A first snowfall of at least 1 inch in a single day typically arrives around Nov 26, and 100% of seasons had one. The first freeze of fall (a low of 32°F or colder) typically comes around Oct 4, and the last freeze of spring around Apr 28.

This season so far (2026-27, data through Oct 16, 2026): no measurable snow recorded yet; first freeze (32°F or colder) Oct 16 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 11Median first measurable snow (0.1"+)

Nov 26Median first 1"+ snowfall

33.8"Average snowfall per season

37%Chance of white Christmas (1"+ on ground Dec 25)

Oct 4Median first fall freeze (≤32°F)

Apr 28Median last spring freeze (≤32°F)

155Median freeze-free days between

First snowfall dates at Sioux 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 11	Oct 18 – Dec 1	Oct 10 (2009-10)	Dec 22 (2001-02)	100%
1" of snow or more	Nov 26	Oct 28 – Dec 23	Oct 10 (2009-10)	Jan 16 (1997-98)	100%
3" of snow or more	Dec 30	Nov 13 – Feb 14	Oct 25 (2020-21)	Apr 6 (2002-03)	93%

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)	30%	87%	100%
1"+	13%	57%	93%

In spring, the last measurable snowfall of the season typically falls around Apr 3 (median).

White Christmas odds in Sioux 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, Sioux City had that in 37% of years, at least 3 inches in 23%, and at least 6 inches in 10%. The average depth on Dec 25 was 2.0 inches and the deepest was 15 inches. New snow was falling (0.1" or more) on Christmas Day itself in 20% 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 25 (67%). Red line: Dec 25.

First and last freeze dates in Sioux City

Threshold	Event	Median date	Typical range (10th–90th pct)	Earliest / latest	Years with one
32°F or colder (freeze)	First in fall	Oct 4	Sep 21 – Oct 14	Sep 15 (2007) / Oct 21 (2021)	100%
32°F or colder (freeze)	Last in spring	Apr 28	Apr 18 – May 17	–	100%
28°F or colder (hard freeze)	First in fall	Oct 16	Oct 1 – Oct 28	Sep 22 (1995) / Nov 7 (2015)	100%
28°F or colder (hard freeze)	Last in spring	Apr 18	Apr 11 – May 1	–	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 155 days.

Nearby weather stations

Source station: Sioux City Ap (USW00014943), elevation 1,092 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 Iowa (on our sister site PlugVsPump, from EIA prices).