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When does it first snow in Tucson, AZ?

At Tucson, the typical date of the first measurable snowfall (0.1 inch or more in a day) is Jan 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 Jan 11, and in 1 in 10 not until Feb 18 or later. The earliest was Jan 1 (2018-19) and the latest Feb 20 (2012-13). A first snowfall of at least 1 inch in a single day typically arrives around Feb 21, and 14% of seasons had one. The first freeze of fall (a low of 32°F or colder) typically comes around Dec 5, and the last freeze of spring around Feb 14.

This fall so far (data through Oct 16, 2026): no 32°F freeze recorded yet at this station. Observed data, can lag a day or two.

Jan 30Median first measurable snow (0.1"+)

Feb 21Median first 1"+ snowfall

0.3"Average snowfall per season

0%Chance of white Christmas (1"+ on ground Dec 25)

Dec 5Median first fall freeze (≤32°F)

Feb 14Median last spring freeze (≤32°F)

291Median freeze-free days between

First snowfall dates at Tucson

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)	Jan 30	Jan 11 – Feb 18	Jan 1 (2018-19)	Feb 20 (2012-13)	18%
1" of snow or more	Feb 21	Feb 2 – Feb 28	Jan 26 (2020-21)	Mar 2 (2022-23)	14%
3" of snow or more	none recorded				0%

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)	0%	0%	0%
1"+	0%	0%	0%

In spring, the last measurable snowfall of the season typically falls around Feb 20 (median).

White Christmas odds in Tucson

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, Tucson had that in 0% of years, at least 3 inches in 0%, and at least 6 inches in 0%. The average depth on Dec 25 was 0.0 inches and the deepest was 0 inches. New snow was falling (0.1" or more) on Christmas Day itself in 0% of years. Based on 30 years with a recorded depth on Dec 25.

Snow cover of 1 inch or more on the ground is rare at this station in any week of the winter.

First and last freeze dates in Tucson

Threshold	Event	Median date	Typical range (10th–90th pct)	Earliest / latest	Years with one
32°F or colder (freeze)	First in fall	Dec 5	Nov 21 – Dec 22	Oct 27 (2020) / Dec 29 (2018)	93%
32°F or colder (freeze)	Last in spring	Feb 14	Jan 11 – Mar 6	–	97%
28°F or colder (hard freeze)	First in fall	Dec 13	Nov 30 – Dec 27	Nov 28 (2005) / Dec 29 (2018)	53%

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 291 days.

Nearby weather stations

Source station: Tucson Intl Ap (USW00023160), elevation 2,551 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 Arizona (on our sister site PlugVsPump, from EIA prices).