Swansenreport

Weather Insights

 • According to a general overview for northern Wisconsin, the average date of the first measurable snowfall typically occurs in mid‑ to late October, whereas areas along Lake Michigan generally see first snow in mid‑ to late November. These patterns are due to higher terrain and lake‑effect snow from Lake Superior in the north versus the moderating influence of Lake Michigan in the east .

 • A more specific reference for Bayfield itself notes that the first measurable snowfall of at least 1.0 inch typically starts in October, with the snow season extending until April .

 • As an additional data point, a Wisconsin-wide article mentions October 22 as the average first measurable snowfall date—though it doesn’t specify the city, it may reflect a regional average that includes areas like Bayfield .

So, you can expect the first measurable snow (around an inch or more) in Bayfield to usually start in October, often in the mid- to late part of the month, with October 22 being a reasonable approximate average.

General Patterns for Northern Wisconsin

According to the National Weather Service (Green Bay office), in Northern Wisconsin, the earliest recorded first measurable snowfall (i.e., 0.1 inches or more) has sometimes occurred as early as mid to late September. Meanwhile, the latest first snowfall has happened as late as mid-December to early January during unusually dry autumns and early winters. The average tends to fall in mid- to late October .

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Bayfield-Specific Records (Statewide Historic Extremes)

The Wisconsin State Climatology Office provides statewide “record one-day snowfall” data that includes some key historical entries relevant to Bayfield:

 • Earliest first significant snow: October 12, 1909, at Iron River (near Bayfield), with snowfall recorded—this stands as one of the earliest fall snow events on record in the region .

 • No exact “latest” first snowfall date is listed specifically for Bayfield in that dataset. However, statewide data suggests that in extreme cases, the first measurable snow has been delayed until mid-December or even early January .

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What This Means for You

 • Typically, you can expect the first inch of snow in Bayfield sometime between mid to late October—a good baseline for planning or expectations.

 • On rare occasions, snowfall has arrived as early as October 12, though more commonly this would be closer to late October.

 • And in unusually mild years, measurable snow could be delayed until mid-December or even into early January, though that’s very uncommon.