Winter’s first measurable snowfall could arrive in parts of the United States within weeks, according to a newly released Farmers’ Almanac first snowfall map. It charts when different regions typically receive their first measurable snow of the season.
Neighboring communities can experience very different first snowfall dates because of geography and local weather patterns, according to Meteorologists. The map is based on long-term climate records, which offer a historical timeline of when snow generally begins across the country. Moreover, the first snowfall timing also differs from town to town. Elevation remains one of the biggest factors. Mountain ridges often cool below freezing while nearby valleys stay warm enough for rain. That temperature difference can delay measurable snowfall even across relatively short distances.
Where will it snow first according to the map?
In the month of October, snowfall follows across much of the northern Rockies, northern Plains, Upper Midwest and northern New England. The Farmers’ Almanac also noted that many locations in the southern United States, particularly along the Gulf Coast, may not record measurable snowfall until December or January. Denver’s average first measurable snowfall falls on October 18, according to NWS climate records. However, the city’s earliest recorded measurable snowfall came on September 3, 1961, when 4.2 inches fell. Some coastal areas can even go through an entire winter without accumulating at least 0.1 inch of snow, the threshold used by the National Weather Service (NWS) for a measurable snowfall.
