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When does it first snow in Yakima, WA?

At Yakima, the typical date of the first measurable snowfall (0.1 inch or more in a day) is Nov 27. 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 Nov 10, and in 1 in 10 not until Dec 12 or later. The earliest was Nov 5 (2017-18) and the latest Jan 15 (2014-15). A first snowfall of at least 1 inch in a single day typically arrives around Dec 2, 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 May 8.

Nov 27Median first measurable snow (0.1"+)

Dec 2Median first 1"+ snowfall

20.7"Average snowfall per season

Oct 4Median first fall freeze (≤32°F)

May 8Median last spring freeze (≤32°F)

151Median freeze-free days between

First snowfall dates at Yakima

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 27	Nov 10 – Dec 12	Nov 5 (2017-18)	Jan 15 (2014-15)	100%
1" of snow or more	Dec 2	Nov 18 – Jan 15	Nov 7 (1995-96)	Feb 6 (2013-14)	100%
3" of snow or more	Dec 15	Nov 24 – Jan 20	Nov 18 (1996-97)	Feb 8 (2013-14)	77%

Based on 22 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%	55%	91%
1"+	0%	45%	82%

In spring, the last measurable snowfall of the season typically falls around Feb 26 (median).

First and last freeze dates in Yakima

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 23 – Oct 25	Sep 19 (2004) / Nov 3 (2015)	100%
32°F or colder (freeze)	Last in spring	May 8	Apr 23 – May 23	–	100%
28°F or colder (hard freeze)	First in fall	Oct 16	Oct 5 – Nov 2	Sep 23 (2000) / Nov 17 (2016)	100%
28°F or colder (hard freeze)	Last in spring	Apr 19	Apr 4 – May 7	–	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 151 days.

Nearby weather stations

Source station: Yakima Ap (USW00024243), elevation 1,053 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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