When You Can Expect the First Snow in 5 Cities Across Maine

While there’s no way to truly know this far in advance when the first snowfall will arrive in Maine, these are the numbers we have.

First off, let’s be clear—we’re not meteorologists, we’re not studying maps or forecasts, and we’re definitely not predicting the exact date snow will fall in 2025. What we are doing is looking at past patterns to realistically figure out when we can expect snow in Maine, comparing Maine to itself over the years.

👇 KEEP READING: Biggest snowfalls recorded in Maine history 👇

With that in mind, how did we determine when to expect the first snowfall in these cities across our Pine Tree State, and why did we choose these cities?

To figure out when we might see the first snow in Maine, we chose five cities that each represent a different part of the state—southern, central, western, Down East, and The County. We then asked ChatGPT, an artificial intelligence, to predict the first snowfall for each city using past weather data, historical trends, and any other relevant factors.

Read More: Maine Ranks as One of the Top 15 States to Live In for 2025

Alright, having covered that, when can we expect the first snowfall in these cities around Maine, and how much time do we have to prepare?

First, let’s establish the cities we’ll be focusing on: Portland for southern Maine, Bangor for Penobscot County, Eastport for Down East Maine, Rangeley for western Maine, and Madawaska up in The County.

The average first measurable snow in Portland typically occurs in mid-to late November —around November 27th based on a 50-year average, up from mid-November in earlier decades.

Given recent climatological data and gradual warming trends that have pushed snowfall later, ChatGPT thinks it’s reasonable to expect the first snow in Portland this year around the last week of November.

Bangor’s average first measurable snowfall typically occurs around November 23rd, in line with regional norms where most of central Maine sees its first flakes in late November.

Considering local cooling patterns and strong winter systems, the artificial intelligence predicts Bangor’s first snow will arrive in the third week of November.

Climatological patterns in Eastport show that measurable snowfall—at least a trace—typically starts in October, while significant accumulation usually begins in November.

Therefore, ChatGPT predicts the first snow (beyond just a trace) for Eastport will arrive by early to mid-November, with perhaps only light dustings appearing in late October.

Rangeley’s mountainous terrain and higher elevation bring earlier and more consistent early‑season snow, with averages indicating first snowfall as early as October 25th.

The artificial intelligence expects the first snow in Rangeley around late October, especially given repeated snowstorms and consistent cold in recent decades.

Northern Maine—including Madawaska in Aroostook County—often sees measurable snow by mid‑October, with the region as a whole typically receiving its first flakes around that time.

Accordingly, ChatGPT expects the first snowfall in Madawaska around mid-October, perhaps the second week of the month, with snow arriving reliably soon after.

Get our free mobile app

And there you have it! Based on the data available, these are the dates when we can first expect snow in Maine—at least in these cities.

What are your thoughts on these predictions? We’d love to hear from you! Feel free to join the conversation by messaging us on the app.

Read More: New Rankings: The Top Three Snobbiest Cities in Maine in 2025