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When does the average first snow fall in Milwaukee, Wisconsin?

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Temperatures in Wisconsin may still feel like summer, but the state is quickly approaching its average first snowfall of the season.

According to the National Weather Service, Milwaukee saw its earliest snowfall of the season in late September and as late as early December.

Last year, Wisconsin experienced its warmest winter on record, but the weather phenomenon known as La Niña could mean the state will experience a colder winter this year.

The NWS reports information about when cities across Wisconsin have their average first day of measurable snowfall. NWS data spans the entire recording period, which varies from several decades to over a hundred years depending on location. Here is the average day for the first snowfall in Milwaukee and other Wisconsin cities:

Average first snowfall in Milwaukee:

  • Average first snowfall: November 2nd
  • Earliest first recorded snowfall: September 23, 1942
  • Last first recorded snowfall: December 5, 1999

Average first snowfall in Madison:

  • Average first snowfall: Oct. 27
  • Earliest first recorded snowfall: September 23, 1928
  • Last first recorded snowfall: November 28, 1994

Average first snowfall in Appleton:

  • Average first snowfall: November 15th
  • Earliest first recorded snowfall: October 10, 1990
  • Last first recorded snowfall: December 19, 1965

Average first snowfall in Green Bay:

  • Average first snowfall: November 13th
  • Earliest first recorded snowfall: October 9, 1925
  • Last first recorded snowfall: December 30, 1923

What does the Farmers' Almanac predict for Milwaukee's upcoming winter weather forecast?

Across the country, the Farmers' Almanac says the 2024-25 winter forecast “predicts a season of severe storms that will bring both rain and snow, with little downtime in between.”

The Northern Plains and Great Lakes regions, including Wisconsin, are expected to experience the coldest temperatures in the country this winter, although areas east of the Rocky Mountains into the Appalachians will also experience “many cold spells.” According to the almanac, the coldest outbreak of the season will occur in the last week of January through early February. “Cold Arctic air” is expected to drop temperatures across the country, particularly in the Plains and Great Lakes.

As cold air blows across Wisconsin and the Midwest, heavy snow showers are forecast that will bring “intense bursts of snow.” The almanac forecasts above-average precipitation in the Great Lakes and Midwest throughout the winter. The last week of January is specifically described as a stormy time for the eastern half of the country.

There is “a very active storm track that we expect to bring frequent heavy precipitation and strong and gusty winds,” the almanac says. “We would particularly like to highlight the periods of January 20-23 and 24-27, which could mean abundant snow, rain, sleet and ice.”

This year's La Niña could bring colder than normal temperatures in Wisconsin

A naturally occurring weather phenomenon called La Niña is expected to bring a colder and snowier winter than normal to the northern United States. La Niña is caused by the cooling of water temperatures in the central Pacific to below average levels over several months.

NOAA issued a La Niña warning in mid-June and predicted that La Niña conditions would occur between September and November and persist throughout the winter.

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