Earliest Snowfall Climatology

Here is a look at some climatological information for the earliest snowfalls on record at Cincinnati, Columbus, and Dayton. Continuous records of snowfall data in autumn go back to 1893 for Cincinnati, 1885 for Columbus, and 1910 for Dayton. Note that the term "measurable" denotes snowfall that is equal to or greater than a tenth of an inch.

Cincinnati (data back to 1893)

Earliest date of measurable snowfall			October 19, 1989 (5.0 inches)
Latest seasonal first measurable snowfall			January 12, 1983 (0.1 inches)
Earliest date of 1 inch or more of snowfall			October 19, 1989 (5.0 inches)
Most snowfall on any day in October			5.9 inches (October 30, 1993)
Most snowfall on October 31st			0.3 inches (1993)
Number of times measurable snow has fallen on October 31st			Once (1993)
Average date of first measurable snowfall (1981-2010)			November 29
Average date of first 1 inch or more of snowfall (1981-2010)			December 15

Columbus (data back to 1885)

Earliest date of measurable snowfall			October 10, 1906 (0.1 inches)
Latest seasonal first measurable snowfall			January 10, 2016 (1.0 inches)
Earliest date of 1 inch or more of snowfall			October 22, 1925 (1.0 inches)
Most snowfall on any day in October			3.6 inches (October 30, 1993)
Most snowfall on October 31st			1.0 inches (1993)
Number of times measurable snow has fallen on October 31st			Twice (1993,1954)
Average date of first measurable snowfall (1981-2010)			November 20
Average date of first 1 inch or more of snowfall (1981-2010)			December 12

Dayton (data back to 1910)

Earliest date of measurable snowfall			October 18, 1989 (0.2 inches)
Latest seasonal first measurable snowfall			January 4, 1941 (0.5 inches)
Earliest date of 1 inch or more of snowfall			October 19, 1989 (4.8 inches)
Most snowfall on any day in October			4.8 inches (October 19, 1989)
Most snowfall on October 31st			0.4 inches (1993)
Number of times measurable snow has fallen on October 31st			Once (1993)
Average date of first measurable snowfall (1981-2010)			November 24
Average date of first 1 inch or more of snowfall (1981-2010)			December 8