February's full moon — named for the heavy snows of late winter. Why it's also called the Hunger Moon, the lore behind it, and how to see it.
Short answer
The Snow Moon is February's full moon, named by northeastern tribes for the month's deepest snowfalls. With hunting hard under deep snow, some peoples also called it the Hunger Moon. Like all winter moons it rides high and bright across the night.
When is the Snow Moon?
February's full moon — the date shifts a little each year.See 2026 calendar
Why "Snow"?
The name comes from the tribes of the northeastern United States, where February brings the heaviest and deepest snow of the year. Because those snows made hunting so difficult, the same moon was widely known as the Hunger Moon or Storm Moon. In some European traditions it aligned with festivals of purification at winter's end.
What it looks like
As a deep-winter full moon, the Snow Moon sits opposite a low Sun and climbs high across the sky, staying up for many hours. Its light cuts cleanly through cold, dry winter air, making it look bright and sharply silver.
Frequently asked questions
Why is it also called the Hunger Moon?
Because the deep February snows made hunting and foraging extremely hard, so some peoples named the moon for the lean, hungry weeks of late winter.
Is the Snow Moon a special astronomical event?
No — it's an ordinary full moon. The name is a seasonal label for February's full moon, not a different kind of moon.