The February Full Moon
Snow Moon
February's full moon, named for the heaviest snows of the year.
The next Snow Moon is full on Saturday, February 20, 2027 at 21:04 UTC.
Why it's called the Snow Moon
February typically brings the heaviest snowfall in much of the Northern Hemisphere, so the month's full moon became the Snow Moon — and, when those snows made hunting hard, the Hunger Moon.
February is, on average, the snowiest month across the northern United States, and its full moon carries that weight in its name. The harder the snow, the leaner the hunting — which is why some traditions called it the Hunger Moon instead.
In a rare year February has no full moon at all, when full moons fall on the 31st of January and the 1st or 2nd of March — a so-called "black moon." When it does appear, the Snow Moon is often the smallest-looking full moon of the year.
February's full moon is also known as the Hunger Moon, the Storm Moon.
Watching the Snow Moon
A full moon rises in the east around sunset and stays up all night, setting near sunrise — so any clear evening close to Sat, February 20 you can watch it climb once it gets dark. It looks biggest and most golden in the first hour after it rises, sitting low on the horizon.
Photographing it? A full moon is flatly lit and shows little crater relief — frame it against a landscape, hills or skyline just after moonrise for scale and warm colour. For sharp crater detail, shoot a night or two before or after full, when shadows return along the terminator.
Snow Moon dates
| Year | Date (UTC) | Time (UTC) |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Sun, February 1 | 17:33 |
| 2027 | Sat, February 20 | 21:04 |
| 2028 | Thu, February 10 · Super | 15:06 |
| 2029 | Wed, February 28 · Super | 20:10 |
| 2030 | Mon, February 18 | 10:57 |
Times are UTC, computed from lunar geometry — local clock times vary by your time zone.
Frequently Asked
When is the Snow Moon in 2027?
The Snow Moon in 2027 is full on Saturday, February 20, 2027 at 21:04 UTC. It is the full moon of February.
Why is it called the Snow Moon?
February typically brings the heaviest snowfall in much of the Northern Hemisphere, so the month's full moon became the Snow Moon — and, when those snows made hunting hard, the Hunger Moon.
What else is the February full moon called?
Besides the Snow Moon, February's full moon is also known as the Hunger Moon, the Storm Moon.
Is the Snow Moon a supermoon in 2027?
No — the 2027 Snow Moon on Saturday, February 20, 2027 is a regular full moon. It is not close enough to the Moon's perigee to count as a supermoon.