LOL, now I have heard it all! What kind of snake? Poisonous? In any event I am no snake expert, but I can't imagine it would call your contaner home for too long.

Snakes are cold blooded so maybe your pot was nice and toasty in the summer, but by now I would think it has found a better spot to overwinter itself. Note I said I would think, not I know ;-)

My brother was really into collecting reptiles and amphibians while we were growing up, so the little knowledge I have on snakes comes from being his sister. That being said, I never heard of a free snake (versa the ons in cages and aquariums, of course) burrowing so close to people before, however, how late in summer was this? If it was when the following week or more was guaranteed to be summer tempeture like (hot), you're more then likely snake free. But, just to make sure (bringing it in the house would make it warm enough for the snake to come out for a visit), this is what I'd try.

If the snake had bright red stripes, looked coppery brown, or light brown with a nice little rattly noise, get an exterminator with expertise with poisonous snakes to check it out for you. If it is any kind of snake besides those and (this is very important)isn't big enough to be interested in eating any pets or bigger (covering bases, in case it's not originally an American snake), then just carefully poke a broom handle down the hole softly, and see if it feels like it's hitting something other then soil or plant roots (like a snake or mouse. LOL)

It probably has left, since they seek warmth as much as possible, but, always wise that you're not letting a snake that you don't want into your home. LOL

Sounds like the behavior typical of a Dekay's Snake (Midland Brown Snake or Northern Brown Snake) or a Worm Snake. Was the snake a small brown snake with a couple rows of small spots going down the length of its back? If so it was a Dekay's Snake.

Both soil burrowing species I mentioned above are harmless and are small snakes that are full sized adults at under a foot long.

It has probably already left your pot, but if you bring it inside by accident it will probably not hibernate since the small pot won't really be a suitable hibernaculum (den). Even in mid-winter snakes will come out if the weather is warm enough for a long enough time.

I wouldn't sweat it too much. Bring the pot in and if the snake should show up remove it safely to the outdoors, first verifying that it is nonvenomous (which it likely is..but good to check before rather than after you move it ;-)). If it is warmer than 45 degrees outside when you remove it, it should be able to make its way to its hibernaculum on its own.

Dump the pot out and see if he's in there.

How are you going to know if he comes out of your pot into the basement during your non-watching hours? Set up a video monitor ?! If for no other reason who wants a dead snake smelling up the corners in December? Your house will be too warm for him to hibernate. Do all of you a favor and dump the pot to make sure he's gone off somewhere else.

I had to clean half my garage after seeing a small black snake slithering across a box a couple months ago. We are finishing our basement and all the boxes are up in the garage. We went through each box and repacked it rather than find a dead snake in there later.

YIKES! I would dump the pot out and make sure he's gone! We have had three snakes come into our house at one time or another and it freaked me out so much I'm extra careful about things like that. You have not known fear until you've walked into your kitchen and found a BIG (four feet) black rat snake trying to coil under your refrigerator!

but HEY no rodent problems either!

I don't think you have to dump the pot out to get rid of him. We have a lot of snakes in Florida and they routinely make their homes in pots or in the roots under shrubs.
To get him (probably her) out of the pot, put the hose on top and just let it run for a while. The snake will leave pretty quickly - certainly once the soil gets saturated - if it's still in there. After it's well watered, bring the pot inside before it dries out and she moves back in.

As to the hibernation thing - it's related more to the cold than to the season, so once you bring a cold snake inside your house it will warm up and definitely wake up.