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When does it first snow in Tanana, AK?

At Tanana, the typical date of the first measurable snowfall (0.1 inch or more in a day) is Oct 9. 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 Sep 25, and in 1 in 10 not until Oct 21 or later. The earliest was Sep 20 (2021-22) and the latest Oct 27 (2018-19). A first snowfall of at least 1 inch in a single day typically arrives around Oct 19, and 100% of seasons had one. The first freeze of fall (a low of 32°F or colder) typically comes around Aug 27, and the last freeze of spring around May 30.

This season so far (2026-27, data through Oct 16, 2026): first measurable snow Oct 10; first freeze (32°F or colder) Sep 2 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 9Median first measurable snow (0.1"+)

Oct 19Median first 1"+ snowfall

57.8"Average snowfall per season

Aug 27Median first fall freeze (≤32°F)

May 30Median last spring freeze (≤32°F)

86Median freeze-free days between

First snowfall dates at Tanana

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 9	Sep 25 – Oct 21	Sep 20 (2021-22)	Oct 27 (2018-19)	100%
1" of snow or more	Oct 19	Sep 25 – Nov 9	Sep 25 (1996-97)	Dec 3 (2014-15)	100%
3" of snow or more	Nov 13	Oct 23 – Jan 6	Sep 25 (1996-97)	Apr 5 (2000-01)	95%

Based on 20 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)	100%	100%	100%
1"+	85%	95%	100%

In spring, the last measurable snowfall of the season typically falls around Apr 13 (median).

First and last freeze dates in Tanana

Threshold	Event	Median date	Typical range (10th–90th pct)	Earliest / latest	Years with one
32°F or colder (freeze)	First in fall	Aug 27	Aug 13 – Sep 4	Aug 4 (1996) / Sep 22 (2007)	100%
32°F or colder (freeze)	Last in spring	May 30	May 13 – Jul 4	–	100%
28°F or colder (hard freeze)	First in fall	Sep 10	Aug 27 – Sep 27	Aug 18 (1997) / Oct 2 (2007)	100%
28°F or colder (hard freeze)	Last in spring	May 15	May 4 – May 23	–	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 86 days.

Nearby weather stations

Source station: Tanana Ap (USW00026529), elevation 225 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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