KENTUCKY — While snowfall in Kentucky is generally associated with the colder winter months, historical weather records show that measurable snow has occasionally fallen in the state as early as October.
The earliest measurable snowfall ever recorded in Kentucky occurred on October 10, 1906, when parts of Lexington reported about 0.5 inches of accumulation. Other early-season events have been documented in the following decades, though such occurrences remain rare.
In Louisville, weather records kept by the National Weather Service show that the earliest measurable snowfall happened on October 19, 1989, when the city recorded 0.3 inches.
Lexington’s earliest October snow on record, aside from the 1906 event, was 0.1 inches on October 19, 1989. Paducah has also seen trace snowfall in October, though measurable amounts in western Kentucky are especially uncommon.
Snowfall in October usually occurs when an unusually strong cold front interacts with early-season moisture. Because ground temperatures are typically warmer in October, accumulations are usually light and short-lived, often melting quickly after falling.
Kentucky’s climate data highlights how exceptional these events are. According to the National Centers for Environmental Information, the majority of Kentucky’s measurable snowfalls take place between December and March. However, the historical record confirms that October snowfall, while rare, is within the realm of possibility.
Meteorologists note that early-season snow is typically confined to the northern and eastern parts of the state, particularly in higher elevations of the Appalachian region. Still, widespread snow events in October are not part of Kentucky’s typical weather patterns.
In short, measurable October snowfall in Kentucky has been documented but remains an unusual weather event—something that occurs only a handful of times in over a century of recordkeeping.
