National Weather Service United States Department of Commerce

 

 

Snowfall Statistics for the Local Area

 

 

Latest Dates for First Snowfall

 

Location Latest Measurable
(0.1" or greater)
Latest One Inch
(1.0" or greater)
Latest Three Inch
(3.0" or greater)
Fort Wayne  December 23
in 2001
February 17
in 1919
March 20
in 1983
South Bend  December 17
in 1998
  January 11
in 1983
February 4
in 1983

Benton Harbor MI

 

January 1
in 1942
January 12
in 1983
February 26
in 1913

Pandora OH

 

 December 23
in 2001
January 22
in 1966
March 26
in 1955

 

 

 

The map below from the Midwestern Regional Climate Center shows the latest date of first measurable snow across the region from 1981-2010. Click on the map below for a bigger image.

 

 


 Average Dates for First Snowfall

 

Location

Average 1st Measurable
(0.1" or greater)

Average 1st One Inch
(1.0" or greater)
Average 1st Three Inch
(3.0" or greater)
Fort Wayne November 14 December 2 December 27
South Bend   November 8  November 16  December 2
Benton Harbor MI November 20 November 24  December 11
Pandora OH November 15 November 28  December 30

 

 

The map below from the Midwestern Regional Climate Center shows the average date of first measurable snow across the region from 1981-2010. Click on the map below for a bigger image.

 

 


 Earliest Dates for First Snowfall

 

Location Earliest Trace
(T or greater)
Earliest Measurable
(0.1" or greater)
Earliest One Inch
(1.0" or greater)
Earliest Three Inch
(3.0" or greater)
Fort Wayne September 25
in 1942
 October 14
in 1937
October 19
in 1974, 1989
October 19
in 1989
South Bend September 25
in 1942, 1994
  September 25
in 1942, 1994
  September 25
in 1942, 1994 
October 19
in 1989
Benton Harbor MI Not Available October 12
in 2006
  October 12
in 2006 
October 19
in 1989
Pandora OH Not Available October 12
in 2006
October 19
in 1989 
November 2
in 1966

 

 

The map below from the Midwestern Regional Climate Center shows the earliest date of first measurable snow across the region from 1981-2010. Click on the map below for a bigger image.

 


Longest Periods Between Last and First Snowfall

 

We took a look at the longest periods without measurable snowfall at Fort Wayne and South Bend. This looks at the period of time between the last measurable snowfall in the spring and the first measurable snowfall in the fall/winter.

 

 

Longest Periods without Measurable Snowfall at South Bend (1929-2019)*
Year Date of Last Measurable Spring Snowfall Date of First Measurable Fall Snowfall Days without Snowfall
2012 March 5th December 10th 279 
1948 March 11th December 9th 272
1998 March 20th December 17th 271
2011 March 23th December 9th 260
1945 March 6th November 21st 259
2004 March 16th November 24th 252
2010 February 26th November 5th 251
1978 March 15th November 21st 250
Average April 6th November 8th 216

 

 

 

Longest Periods without Measurable Snowfall at Fort Wayne (1912-2019)
Year Date of Last Measurable
Spring Snowfall
Date of First Measurable Fall/Winter Snowfall Days without Snowfall
1990 February 25th December 3rd 280
1946 February 24th December 1st 279
2010 February 28th December 1st 275
1998 March 21st December 17th 270
1918 March 7th December 3rd 270
Average April 3rd November 14th 225

 

 

 

Longest Periods without Measurable Snowfall at Benton Harbor (1911-2019)
Year Date of Last Measurable
Spring Snowfall
Date of First Measurable Fall/Winter Snowfall Days without Snowfall
1946 February 14th December 29th 317
1945 February 8th December 11th 305
1939 February 26th December 21st 297
1948 March 2nd December 20th 292
2001 March 9th December 24th 289
Average March 24th November 21st 241

 

 

 

Longest Periods without Measurable Snowfall at Pandora OH (1949-2019)
Year Date of Last Measurable
Spring Snowfall
Date of First Measurable Fall/Winter Snowfall Days without Snowfall
2009 February 22nd December 7th 287
1999 March 9th December 17th 282
1998 March 21st December 16th 269
2017 March 17th December 9th 266
2004 March 17th November 25th 252
1991 February 28th November 7th 251
Average April 1st November 15th 227

 

*Years 1930-31, 1935-39, and 1946-47 are missing.  Also, spring date missing in 1934 while fall date is missing in 1929 and 1932.

 


Updated 10/12/2022

by Kyle Brown