Average first snowfalls - Early season snow showers in NY

Parts of upstate New York, including Tug Hill, N.Y., saw early-season snow showers on Monday. When does your area typically see its first snowfall?

While leaf-peepers may be rejoicing as fall color moves in, snowfall is just around the corner for many communities. Some areas were greeted by their first snow of the season in the Northeast this week after a powerful cold front moved through the region.

A few factors impact when a region will see its first snow, including latitude and altitude. Typically, the further north you are located and the higher your altitude is, the earlier you will see snow. Snow can happen year-round in some areas, such as the highest elevations of the Rockies. In other regions, like the Deep South, Gulf Coast or Desert Southwest, snow is rare and absent most years.

Generally, in the Midwest, Great Lakes and Northeast, the season's first snowfall can be expected between Oct. 1 and Oct. 31. The Mid-Atlantic, Ozarks and Southern Appalachians often see their first snowfalls in November, while December snow is more common across the mid-South. Our WeatherRadar can show you when snow is on the way!