GTA Online UFO snowy weather is a topic that mixes two things: the night-time UFO events of Halloween and the weather schedule that decides when rain or snow can happen. The Sightseeing UFOs show up between 10 PM and 4 AM in-game time, while the secret UFO Tattoo event needs either rain at night or snow. Because rain at night is very rare, snowy weather is the practical way to trigger it.
Key facts
- Sightseeing UFO hours in Stages 1 and 2: 10 PM to 4 AM in-game time
- Stage 3 UFO hours: 7:30 PM to 6:30 AM, with the Halloween Weather
- UFO Tattoo event: needs rain at night or snow
- Weather cycle: 55 weather changes over 384 in-game hours
GTA Online weather cycle and UFO events
The weather in GTA Online follows a pseudo-random schedule of 55 changes spread over 384 in-game hours. That works out to a cycle that repeats every 12.8 real-life hours. The cycle begins and ends on Partly Cloudy, so in practice it changes 54 times. A weather phase lasts between 120 real seconds and one real hour.
It never rains at night in Free Mode. Rain after dark only shows up in some jobs and special events, for example Halloween and the Alien Egg mission. One possible reason is that older consoles could not render the standing water reflections in a 30-player lobby.
The UFO Tattoo and snow
The UFO Tattoo event is tied to the weather. It requires either rain at night or snow to spawn. Since rain at night is nearly impossible, GTA Online players mostly got the special UFO tattoo during snowy weather. The unlock steps are in How to get the Secret UFO Tattoo in GTA Online.
Halloween Weather in Sightseeing
The Sightseeing event has its own weather effect. A few hours before Stage 3 UFOs spawn, San Andreas is tinted a different colour and thunder rolls across the map, even inside buildings. Players call this the Halloween Weather. In the earlier stages, a thunder and lightning flash marks the moment a UFO vanishes when you approach it too closely. Photos of UFOs pay $15,000 and 1,000 RP each. For the full event, read Alien UFO Sightseeing.
Related guides
- Sightseeing Stage 3
- GTA Online UFO abduction
- Halloween – All Halloween Events
- Browse the GTA Online Halloween category
Video walkthrough
Prefer to watch? This video shows it in action.
FAQ
Does it rain at night in GTA Online?
Not in Free Mode. Rain at night appears only in some jobs and special events such as Halloween.
Why does snow matter for UFO events?
The UFO Tattoo event needs rain at night or snow, and since rain at night almost never happens, snow is the usual trigger.
How often does the GTA Online weather repeat?
The cycle repeats every 12.8 real-life hours, with 55 weather changes inside it.
What is the Halloween Weather?
A colour tint and thunder over San Andreas that begins a few hours before the Stage 3 UFOs spawn.
