First snow (Oct 16)

[dreamshark]

Does it always snow this early in Minneapolis? We haven't even had a hard frost yet! But there it is (or was, anyway. 9:30am yesterday, Oct 16). Big wet flakes of snow 

There is probably some way to embed a picture from Google Photos but once again I have forgotten the complicated dance that DW requires to make that happen. If you follow this link you can see the live photo version.  If the snowflakes aren't moving for you, click on the little triangle in the icon bar at the top of the picture.

Comments

[pameladean]

The first accumulating snow is usually in November, anywhere from the first of the month til around Thanksgiving. But in 2018, the first accumulating snow happened on October 14. And of course we have an occasional Halloween blizzard.

By the time I got up it had all melted, if it stuck at all. The sidewalks were wet.

P.

[pameladean]

Oh, and to actually perhaps answer your question, the average date for first accumulating snow is November 11. So basically, the answer is No, it doesn't usually snow this early in Minneapolis.

P.

[dreamshark]

But this was not an accumulating snow. Just a little morning surprise that melted almost as soon as it hit the ground.

[pameladean]

People who like to play with this data and put their conclusions on the internet don't seem as much interested in flurries or other kinds of non-accumulating snow. I had the information I do on hand because at one point I was doing research for a story, and I think I concluded that I could plausibly have falling snow that melted when it hit the ground any time during or after the third week of September. I probably got that from the informational section of the Minnesota Weatherguide Calendar, but I don't really recall.

P.

[dreamshark]

Wow, you certainly have learned a lot doing research for stories. First odor molecules and now early snow. Thanks.