National Weather Service United States Department of Commerce

 

What is the Average Date of the  First Fall Snowfall?

(The following snowfall data for Colorado Springs,Pueblo, and Alamosa has been compiled using NWS Pueblo and NCEI records)

(measurable snowfall defined as being greater than or equal to 0.1 inches)

 

Colorado Springs

  Mean Date of First Snowfall………............October 19th

 Earliest First Snowfall:  Trace................................September 2nd, 1961

Earliest Measurable Snowfall:  4.2  inches.............September 3rd, 1961

  Latest Measurable First Snowfall: 0.2 inches..........November 28th, 2010

Greatest Amount for First Snowfall: 6.0 inches....October 24th, 1997

(13.9 inches followed on October 25th, 1997.  This was the Blizzard of '97)

 

 

Pueblo

Mean Date of First Snowfall………....…...........November 4th

Earliest First Snowfall:  Trace....................................September 10th, 1898

 Earliest First Measurable Snowfall:  7.3 inches.........September 17th, 1971

  Latest First Measurable Snowfall:  1.4 inches..........December 10th, 1963

Greatest Amount for First Snowfall: 12.6 inches....October 31st, 1972

(4.9 inches followed on November 1st, 1972)

 

 

Alamosa

Mean Date of First Snowfall…..................……October 29th

 Earliest First Measurable Snowfall:    4.2 inches..….September 3rd, 1961

  Latest First Measurable Snowfall:      3.3 inches.....December 9th, 2012

Greatest Amount for First Snowfall: 13.1 inches.....October 30th, 1991

(2.0 inches followed on October 31st, 1991)

 

This website... https://www.climate.gov/news-features/blogs/beyond-data/first-dates

is a nationwide database of the historic date by which there's a 50% chance of at least 0.1" of snow on the ground.

 It includes many more sites in southern Colorado.

The dates are earlier that those above because it deals in a percentage chance rather than the actual snowfall data.