Snow Moon
Snow on the ground can make the season feel settled in, even when each storm brings a change. February’s full moon carries a name drawn from those snow-covered fields and woods. Its alternatives recall scarce food and the birth of bear cubs, rather than a different kind of moon.
, 2027
· 23:23 UTC · Moon in Virgo
Where the name comes from
Heavy seasonal snowfall gives February’s full moon its familiar name in both the Old Farmer’s Almanac and the Farmers’ Almanac. The Farmers’ Almanac places that association in northern North America, rather than treating it as a description of weather everywhere. The Old Farmer’s Almanac cites Jonathan Carver’s account of visits among the Dakota and other peoples, in which he recorded a name explained by abundant snow during this part of winter. That is a written account of an existing seasonal name, not evidence that Carver coined it.
The familiar monthly list brings together names from different sources rather than preserving one universal calendar. The Old Farmer’s Almanac describes its naming tradition as a mixture of Native American, Colonial American, and European sources, and its attributions are used for the alternatives listed here. Timeanddate also lists Snow Moon, Storm Moon, and Ice Moon as Celtic and Old English names. Historical lists differ: Wikipedia notes that writers recorded different sets of names and that these referred to lunar months, not simply the moment of full moon. The Old Farmer’s Almanac likewise explains that a name traditionally covered the whole lunar month.
Other names for the February full moon
- Bear Moon — Ojibwe
- Black Bear Moon — Tlingit
- Raccoon Moon — Dakota
- Groundhog Moon — certain Algonquin peoples
- Goose Moon — Haida
- Hungry Moon — Cherokee
What the season is doing
Across snowy parts of the northern United States, this name points to the stretch of winter when heavy snowfall can blanket fields and woods and food has historically been difficult to obtain. The Farmers’ Almanac connects Snow Moon with heavy snow, while the Old Farmer’s Almanac interprets its Cherokee alternatives, Hungry Moon and Month of the Bony Moon, as references to scarcity. Other names turn attention toward life continuing through the cold: its Ojibwe Bear Moon and Tlingit Black Bear Moon refer to the season when bear cubs are born. Together, these labels record several seasonal concerns, not just the appearance of snow.
What the name does not mean
Despite its wintry wording, Snow Moon is not a claim that the moon becomes a special snowy white. The almanacs explain the name through conditions on Earth, particularly snowfall, rather than through a change in the moon’s surface or appearance. It does not designate a different color or size, and the name alone says nothing about whether the full moon has an unusual astronomical feature. The distinction is simple: full moon describes a physical phase; Snow Moon supplies a seasonal label.
Snow Moon dates, 2025 to 2030
Between 2025 and 2030 the Snow Moon falls as early as February 1 (2026) and as late as February 28 (2029), in Leo or Virgo: a full moon sits opposite the Sun, which at this time of year is in Aquarius or Pisces.
The Snow Moon is the same disc for everyone. Which part of your own chart it falls across depends on your birth date, and that is what a personal reading looks at. See a reading built from your birth moon →
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When is the Snow Moon in 2027?
On Saturday, February 20, 2027, at 6:23 PM EST (23:23 UTC), with the Moon in Virgo. Central, Mountain and Pacific clocks read one, two and three hours earlier.
Does the Snow Moon mean snow is coming?
No. The Farmers’ Almanac explains the name through the heavy snow traditionally associated with February in much of northern North America. It is a seasonal association, not a forecast for the night of the full moon or a promise of snowfall where you live.
Why is the Snow Moon also called the Hunger Moon?
The Farmers’ Almanac lists Hunger Moon as an alternative February name. Timeanddate explains the related Hungry Moon wording through scarce food sources in midwinter. These names emphasize the difficulty of finding enough food during the season, rather than suggesting that the moon itself causes hunger.
Is the Snow Moon name used everywhere?
It is widely encountered in English-language almanacs, but it is not a universal traditional name. Its seasonal setting is the Northern Hemisphere, and the publications list alternatives associated with different peoples and traditions. A shared full moon does not require a shared name or matching local weather.
The months either side
Sources for the name and its history: almanac.com · timeanddate.com · farmersalmanac.com · en.wikipedia.org · vaonis.com · mentalfloss.com · rmg.co.uk · fingerlakesconnected.com. Dates, times and signs: our own calculation, checked against the US Naval Observatory.