As the days grow shorter and the air begins to turns crisp, skiers and snowboarders across the U.S. are eagerly anticipating the upcoming winter season. For those planning trips to their favorite resorts, understanding when the first freeze will hit is key to predicting snowmaking potential and early season conditions. Direct Weather took a look at the weather, producing a forecast on when portions of the U.S. can expect their first freeze in 2025.
Late August: High Peaks Get a Head Start
By late August, the highest elevations in the U.S. are already flirting with freezing temperatures. Expect the first frost to dust the tallest peaks in the Cascades and the northern Rockies, particularly in areas like Glacier National Park in Montana and Mount Rainier in Washington. For skiers, this could mean early snowmaking opportunities at resorts situated above 8,000 feet.
Early September: The Mountain West Joins In
By early September, the freeze line creeps lower, enveloping more of the Sierra Nevada, Cascades, and Rockies. Resorts in Idaho (Sun Valley), Utah (Park City), Colorado (Aspen Snowmass), Wyoming (Jackson Hole), and Montana will likely see their first freeze during this period. Even parts of northern Minnesota, near resorts like Lutsen Mountains, could experience early frost.
Late September: A Freeze Sweeps the West and Beyond
By late September, the freeze extends across most of the Mountain West, covering the Rockies, Sierra Nevada, and Cascades. Resorts like Vail and Heavenly will likely see consistent freezing temperatures. The Northern Plains, Upper Midwest, and parts of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula also join the freeze zone, benefiting resorts like Boyne Mountain. In the East, higher elevations in the Green Mountains, White Mountains, Adirondacks, and northern Maine (near Sugarloaf) will see their first frost.
Early October: Half the Nation Feels the Chill
By early October, nearly half the U.S. will have experienced its first freeze. The entire Mountain West will be in prime snowmaking mode. The Northern Plains (North Dakota, South Dakota) and Central Plains (Kansas, Nebraska) join in, along with much of the Midwest (Iowa, Northern Missouri, Northern Illinois, Northern Indiana, and most of Michigan). In the East, the Appalachian Mountains will see freezing temperatures, signaling the start of serious snowmaking efforts.
Late October to Early November: The South and Mid-Atlantic Catch Up
By late October, the freeze reaches lower elevations and southern regions. Areas in New Mexico, the Texas Panhandle, Northern Oklahoma, Arkansas, and the northern Deep South (Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia) will see their first frost. In the East, the Mid-Atlantic and most of New England will experience freezes, benefiting resorts like Sunday River. By early November, even coastal Northwest areas and parts of Central Texas, Southern Oklahoma, Northern Louisiana, and the Florida Panhandle will feel the chill, though snowmaking remains limited in these milder climates.
No Freeze Zones
Some areas, including far Southeastern Louisiana, Southern Texas, parts of California, Arizona, and most of Florida, rarely see a freeze. However, Direct Weather’s forecast suggests a colder-than-average East and warmer-than-average West for fall and winter 2025. This could mean earlier freezes in eastern ski areas like Gore Mountain and rare cold snaps in typically mild regions.
