Weather
Missouri Winter Weather: First Snow After Thanksgiving, Dec. 2?
St. Louis, MO – Missouri residents wondering whether the first measurable snowfall of the 2026 winter season could arrive before or after Thanksgiving have an early December date to watch. St. Louis t
By Elliot Vaughn · 2026-10-17T08:13:52.075Z
St. Louis, MO – Missouri residents wondering whether the first measurable snowfall of the 2026 winter season could arrive before or after Thanksgiving have an early December date to watch. St. Louis typically records its first accumulating snow shortly after the holiday, although freezing rain and sleet can create hazardous conditions before significant snowfall develops.
According to historical snowfall information provided for this report, St. Louis generally experiences its first measurable snowfall around Dec. 2. That is six days after Thanksgiving, which falls on Thursday, Nov. 26, this year.
When Does Missouri Usually See Its First Snow? Missouri's geography creates differences in when winter weather arrives.
Northern Missouri, including communities near St. Joseph, Kirksville and the Iowa border, generally experiences colder conditions earlier than southern parts of the state.
St. Louis provides an eastern Missouri reference point for the typical first measurable snowfall date.
Central Missouri, including Columbia and Jefferson City, can experience snow, sleet and freezing rain as temperatures fluctuate near freezing.
Southern Missouri, including Springfield and communities across the Ozarks, can also experience winter precipitation, although the timing varies considerably.
Measurable snowfall is defined as at least 0.1 inches of accumulation.
Could Ice Arrive Before the First Snow? Freezing rain and sleet are important winter weather concerns across Missouri.
Mixed precipitation storms can develop when warmer air moves above a shallow layer of freezing air near the ground.
These conditions can make bridges, elevated highways and untreated roads hazardous, even when measurable snowfall remains limited.
Major routes, including Interstate 70, Interstate 44 and Interstate 55, can experience changing travel conditions during winter storms.
However, the Dec. 2 benchmark represents historical timing, not a confirmed snowfall or ice storm forecast for 2026.
Residents across St. Louis, Kansas City, Columbia, Springfield and northern Missouri should monitor National Weather Service forecasts as Thanksgiving approaches.
For now, Missouri's historical snowfall calendar points toward early December for St. Louis, while freezing rain and sleet remain possible earlier in the season.