When is the First Snowfall in Iowa?

As we get to that time of year, many begin to ask when does it start snowing in Iowa? It is around this same time that the weather models overdo the amount of cold air in the atmosphere. This causes the models to show possible snowfall far out on weather model runs. These snowfall maps then start to fly around on social media with captions of snowfall accumulations as early as mid-October.

The technical definition for the first snowfall is snowfall accumulations of at least an inch or more. This typically occurs as early as November 10th to 17 across northwest Iowa, and as late as December 12th through December 19th across southeast Iowa.

One thing to remember when it comes to snowfall forecasting this time of year is the ground temperatures. The models may show snowfall accumulations, but typically the ground temperatures are still above freezing. This will either melt a lot of the snow or reduce the amount of snow that does accumulate. Learn more about how snow can stick to above freezing surfaces.

While it is not uncommon, there are years that Iowa does see its first snowfall before November 1st. As you may recall, in 2019, many parts of Iowa had their first snowfall of the season on Halloween.

How much snow does Iowa receive in a season?

As for the amount of snow that the state of Iowa receives in an average season, amounts will range from 18 to 22 inches across southern Iowa to 38 to 42 inches across northern Iowa.

When the snow starts to show up in the forecast, be sure to watch ISCN for the latest snowfall forecast on our Facebook page, Twitter page, and through the best weather app you will ever need. Download our free ISCN Weather app today!