List of snowiest places in the United States by state

Last updated

The list of snowiest places in the United States by state shows average annual snowfall totals for the period from mid-1985 to mid-2015. Only places in the official climate database of the National Weather Service, a service of NOAA, are included in this list. Some ski resorts and unofficial weather stations report higher amounts of snowfall than places on this list. Official weather stations are usually located in populated places and snowfall statistics for isolated and unpopulated areas are often not recorded.

Mount Rainier and Mount Baker in Washington are the snowiest places in the United States which have weather stations, receiving 645 inches (1,640 cm) annually on average. By comparison, the populated place with the highest snowfall in the world is believed to be Sukayu Onsen in the Siberian-facing Japanese Alps. Sukayu Onsen receives 694.5 inches (1,764 cm) (nearly 58 feet) of snow annually. Nearby mountain slopes may receive even more. [1]

The amount of snow received at weather stations varies substantially from year to year. For example, the annual snowfall at Paradise Ranger Station in Mount Rainier National Park has been as little as 266 inches (680 cm) in 2014-2015 and as much as 1,122 inches (2,850 cm) in 1971–1972. [2]

Mount Rainier Mount Rainier from 30,000 feet.jpg
Mount Rainier
Skiing Mount Washington Tuckerman Ravine Stevage.jpg
Skiing Mount Washington
A Chicago snowstorm in 2011 Cars covered in Snow on Lake Shore Drive Chicago Feb 2 2011 storm.JPG
A Chicago snowstorm in 2011
Clearing a highway after a heavy snowfall in Oregon Rotary clears highway (4046721897).jpg
Clearing a highway after a heavy snowfall in Oregon
A blizzard at Altus Air Force Base in Oklahoma Snow Storm DVIDS362913.jpg
A blizzard at Altus Air Force Base in Oklahoma
Snow on Mauna Kea, Hawaii Hawaii Big Island Kona Hilo 063 (6878868712).jpg
Snow on Mauna Kea, Hawaii
Weather stations with highest snowfall in the United States by state, 1985-2015
StatePlaceAverage annual snowfall [3] elevation of weather station [4] coordinates [4] Other snowy areas (limited or unofficial data) and notes
1. Washington Paradise, Mount Rainier 645.5 inches (1,640 cm)5,400 feet (1,600 m) 46°47′N121°44′W / 46.79°N 121.73°W / 46.79; -121.73 Mount Baker, 645 inches (1,640 cm) annually. [5]
2. Oregon Timberline Lodge Ski Area 551 inches (1,400 cm)5,960 feet (1,820 m) 45°20′N121°43′W / 45.33°N 121.71°W / 45.33; -121.71 Crater Lake, 533 inches (1,350 cm) annually. [6]
3. Utah Alta 456.9 inches (1,161 cm)8,730 feet (2,660 m) 40°36′N111°38′W / 40.60°N 111.64°W / 40.60; -111.64 Brighton Ski Resort, 411.1 inches (1,044 cm) annually. [7]
4. California Soda Springs 411.6 inches (1,045 cm) [8] 6,885 feet (2,099 m) 39°19′N120°23′W / 39.32°N 120.38°W / 39.32; -120.38 Sugar Bowl Ski Resort 2.5 miles east of Soda Springs, 500 inches (1,300 cm) annually. [9] Lake Helen at Mount Lassen [10] and Kalmia Lake in the Trinity Alps are estimated to receive 600-700 inches of snow per year. Tamarack in Calaveras County holds the record for the deepest snowfall on earth (884 inches (2,250 cm)).
5. Alaska Valdez 314.1 inches (798 cm)95 feet (29 m) 61°08′N146°21′W / 61.13°N 146.35°W / 61.13; -146.35 Alyeska Resort, 669 inches (1,700 cm) annually. [11]
6. New Hampshire Mount Washington 282.1 inches (717 cm)6,270 feet (1,910 m) 44°16′N71°18′W / 44.27°N 71.30°W / 44.27; -71.30 Elevation of weather station.
7. Colorado Climax 273.8 inches (695 cm)11,350 feet (3,460 m) 39°22′N106°11′W / 39.37°N 106.19°W / 39.37; -106.19 Wolf Creek Pass Ski Area. 387 inches (980 cm) annually. [12]
8. Wyoming Burgess Junction 257.8 inches (655 cm)8,050 feet (2,450 m) 44°46′N107°31′W / 44.77°N 107.52°W / 44.77; -107.52 Grand Targhee Resort, 500 inches (1,300 cm) annually. [9]
9. New York High Market (West Turin)214.2 inches (544 cm)1,816 feet (554 m) 43°21′N75°15′W / 43.35°N 75.25°W / 43.35; -75.25 Syracuse named snowiest city in U.S., 123.8 inches (314 cm) annually. [13]
10. Michigan Herman 214 inches (540 cm)1,667 feet (508 m) 46°40′N88°22′W / 46.67°N 88.37°W / 46.67; -88.37
11. Vermont Mount Mansfield 211.9 inches (538 cm)3,866 feet (1,178 m) 44°32′N72°49′W / 44.53°N 72.82°W / 44.53; -72.82 Jay Peak Resort, 350 inches (890 cm) annually. [14]
12. Idaho Island Park 211.8 inches (538 cm)6,298 feet (1,920 m) 44°25′N111°22′W / 44.42°N 111.37°W / 44.42; -111.37 Lookout Pass, 400 inches (1,000 cm) annually. [15]
13. South Dakota near Lead 195.9 inches (498 cm)6,120 feet (1,870 m) 44°14′N103°48′W / 44.24°N 103.80°W / 44.24; -103.80
14. Montana Mystic Lake 184.3 inches (468 cm)6,560 feet (2,000 m) 45°14′N109°44′W / 45.24°N 109.73°W / 45.24; -109.73 Cooke City, 200.7 inches (510 cm) annually. [16] Higher totals common at Big Sky.
15. West Virginia Terra Alta 175.0 inches (444 cm)2,582 feet (787 m) 39°27′N79°33′W / 39.45°N 79.55°W / 39.45; -79.55
16. Wisconsin Hurley 162.2 inches (412 cm)1,500 feet (460 m) 46°27′N90°11′W / 46.45°N 90.19°W / 46.45; -90.19
17. New Mexico Red River 151.1 inches (384 cm)8,661 feet (2,640 m) 36°43′N105°25′W / 36.71°N 105.41°W / 36.71; -105.41 Taos Ski Valley, 300 inches (760 cm) [17]
18. Maine Eustis 123.8 inches (314 cm)1,163 feet (354 m) 45°08′N70°26′W / 45.14°N 70.44°W / 45.14; -70.44
19. Arizona Bright Angel Ranger Station 118.4 inches (301 cm)8,320 feet (2,540 m) 36°13′N112°04′W / 36.21°N 112.06°W / 36.21; -112.06 Arizona Snowbowl, 260 inches (660 cm). [18] Sunrise Park Resort, 250 inches (640 cm). [19] Hawley Lake 168 inches (430 cm). [20]
20. Nevada Wild Horse Reservoir 118.2 inches (300 cm)6,265 feet (1,910 m) 41°40′N115°48′W / 41.67°N 115.80°W / 41.67; -115.80
21. Ohio Chardon 109.2 inches (277 cm)1,291 feet (393 m) 41°35′N81°12′W / 41.58°N 81.20°W / 41.58; -81.20
22. Maryland Oakland 105.9 inches (269 cm)2,408 feet (734 m) 39°25′N79°25′W / 39.41°N 79.41°W / 39.41; -79.41
23. Pennsylvania Erie 103.0 inches (262 cm)650 feet (200 m) 42°08′N80°05′W / 42.13°N 80.08°W / 42.13; -80.08
24. North Carolina Mount Mitchell 91 inches (230 cm)6,684 feet (2,037 m) 35°46′N82°16′W / 35.76°N 82.27°W / 35.76; -82.27
25. Minnesota Duluth 86.5 inches (220 cm)651 feet (198 m) 46°47′N92°06′W / 46.79°N 92.10°W / 46.79; -92.10
26. Tennessee Mount Le Conte 82.9 inches (211 cm)6,345 feet (1,934 m) 35°40′N83°26′W / 35.66°N 83.44°W / 35.66; -83.44
27. Connecticut Norfolk 77 inches (200 cm)1,167 feet (356 m) 41°59′N73°12′W / 41.99°N 73.20°W / 41.99; -73.20
28. Massachusetts Ashburnham 75.1 inches (191 cm)1,028 feet (313 m) 42°38′N71°55′W / 42.64°N 71.91°W / 42.64; -71.91
29. Indiana South Bend 66.8 inches (170 cm)752 feet (229 m) 41°41′N86°15′W / 41.68°N 86.25°W / 41.68; -86.25
30. Rhode Island North Foster 60.4 inches (153 cm)707 feet (215 m) 41°51′N71°46′W / 41.85°N 71.76°W / 41.85; -71.76
31. Virginia Wise 52.7 inches (134 cm)2,436 feet (742 m) 36°59′N82°35′W / 36.98°N 82.58°W / 36.98; -82.58
32. North Dakota Fargo 51.6 inches (131 cm)903 feet (275 m) 46°53′N96°47′W / 46.88°N 96.79°W / 46.88; -96.79
33. Nebraska Harrisburg 46.5 inches (118 cm)4,492 feet (1,369 m) 41°34′N103°44′W / 41.56°N 103.74°W / 41.56; -103.74
34. Iowa Dubuque 42.5 inches (108 cm)708 feet (216 m) 42°30′N90°40′W / 42.50°N 90.66°W / 42.50; -90.66
35. New Jersey Sussex 41.2 inches (105 cm)500 feet (150 m) 41°13′N74°37′W / 41.21°N 74.61°W / 41.21; -74.61
36. Illinois Chicago 38.5 inches (98 cm)858 feet (262 m) 41°53′N87°38′W / 41.88°N 87.63°W / 41.88; -87.63
37. Kansas McDonald 37.6 inches (96 cm)3,364 feet (1,025 m) 39°47′N101°22′W / 39.78°N 101.37°W / 39.78; -101.37
38. Kentucky Closplint 31.7 inches (81 cm)1,551 feet (473 m) 36°54′N83°04′W / 36.90°N 83.07°W / 36.90; -83.07
39. Oklahoma Boise City 30.8 inches (78 cm)4,175 feet (1,273 m) 36°44′N102°31′W / 36.73°N 102.51°W / 36.73; -102.51
40. Missouri Edina 22.0 inches (56 cm)795 feet (242 m) 40°10′N92°10′W / 40.17°N 92.17°W / 40.17; -92.17
41. Delaware Wilmington 21.9 inches (56 cm)114 feet (35 m) 39°14′N75°33′W / 39.24°N 75.55°W / 39.24; -75.55
42. Texas Stratford 20.2 inches (51 cm)3,699 feet (1,127 m) 36°20′N102°04′W / 36.34°N 102.07°W / 36.34; -102.07
43. Arkansas Gravette 16.0 inches (41 cm)1,211 feet (369 m) 36°25′N94°27′W / 36.42°N 94.45°W / 36.42; -94.45
44. South Carolina Caesars Head 7.2 inches (18 cm)3,180 feet (970 m) 35°07′N82°38′W / 35.11°N 82.63°W / 35.11; -82.63 Elevation of weather station
45. Alabama Valley Head 6.1 inches (15 cm)1,043 feet (318 m) 34°34′N85°37′W / 34.56°N 85.61°W / 34.56; -85.61
46. Georgia Dallas 3.8 inches (9.7 cm)994 feet (303 m) 33°56′N84°50′W / 33.93°N 84.84°W / 33.93; -84.84 Highest peaks in Appalachian Mountains get ca. 35 inches (89 cm) annually. [21]
47. Mississippi Hickory Flat 2.9 inches (7.4 cm)435 feet (133 m) 34°37′N89°11′W / 34.62°N 89.19°W / 34.62; -89.19
48. Louisiana Shreveport 0.8 inches (2.0 cm)225 feet (69 m) 32°31′N93°45′W / 32.51°N 93.75°W / 32.51; -93.75
49. Florida Milton 0.2 inches (0.51 cm)9 feet (2.7 m) 30°38′N87°02′W / 30.63°N 87.04°W / 30.63; -87.04
50. Hawaii –0.0 inches (0 cm)––Occasional snow above 6,200 feet (1,900 m) elevation. [22] The Mauna Loa Observatory  –at an elevation of 11,150 feet (3,400 m) –averages 3.7 inches (9.4 cm) of snow per year. [23]

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References

  1. ↑ "Record Snow Depth (For an official site) Measured in Japan | Weather Extremes". www.wunderground.com. Retrieved 27 Apr 2019.
  2. ↑ Ashford, Mailing Address: 55210 238th Avenue East; Us, WA 98304 Phone: 360 569-2211 Contact. "Annual Snowfall Totals - Mount Rainier National Park (U.S. National Park Service)". www.nps.gov. Retrieved 2022-06-28.
  3. ↑ "The snowiest place in each state," The Weather Channel, accessed 23 Apr 2019. Archived 4 June 2019 at the Wayback Machine
  4. 1 2 Google Earth
  5. ↑ "Washington ski areas". www.thesnowjunkies.com. Archived from the original on 26 April 2019. Retrieved 26 Apr 2019.
  6. ↑ "The Top 9 Snowiest Ski Resorts in North America". snowbrains.com. 30 September 2019. Retrieved 26 Apr 2019.
  7. ↑ "Brighton UT Snowfall Totals & Snow Accumulation Averages - Current Results". www.currentresults.com. Retrieved 26 Apr 2019.
  8. ↑ "SODA SPRINGS 1 E, Minnesota - Climate Summary". wrcc.dri.edu. Retrieved 2022-06-28.
  9. 1 2 "Top Snowiest Ski Resorts in the USA". snowbrains.com. 7 June 2021. Retrieved 26 Apr 2019.
  10. ↑ McLaughlin, Mark. "Weather Window: The snowiest spot in California is Lake Helen near Lassen Volcanic National Park". www.sierrasun.com. Retrieved 2020-07-14.
  11. ↑ "10 Ski Resorts with the Deepest Snow in America". www.nationalgeographic.com. 31 January 2017. Retrieved 27 Apr 2019.
  12. ↑ "Wolf Creek Ski Resort | Snowiest Ski Resort in Colorado". www.zrankings.com. Retrieved 26 Apr 2019.
  13. ↑ "Top 25 Snowiest Cities in America". www.niche.com. Retrieved 26 Apr 2019.
  14. ↑ "The Mountain | Jay Peak Resort". jaypeakresort.com. Retrieved 2021-08-11.
  15. ↑ "Idaho Ski Resorts Listed by Vertical Drop and Snowfall". Visit Sun Valley. 2016-09-26. Retrieved 2022-06-28.
  16. ↑ "Average Annual Snowfall Totals in Montana - Current Results". www.currentresults.com. Retrieved 26 Apr 2019.
  17. ↑ "Taos Ski Valley Official Tourism and Travel Website". Taos Ski Valley Official Tourism and Travel Website. Retrieved 2022-06-28.
  18. ↑ "Snowmaking". Arizona Snowbowl. Retrieved 2022-10-12.
  19. ↑ "Sunrise Park Resort Ski Resort | SkiCentral.com". www.skicentral.com. Retrieved 2022-10-12.
  20. ↑ "HAWLEY LAKE, ARIZONA - Climate Summary". wrcc.dri.edu. Retrieved 2022-10-12.
  21. ↑ "AT Snowfall Maps - weathercarrot". weathercarrot.smugmug.com. Retrieved 27 Apr 2019.
  22. ↑ Graff, Amy (2019-02-11). "Hawaii recorded what may be the lowest elevation snow in state history". SFGATE. Retrieved 2022-06-28.
  23. ↑ "MAUNA LOA SLOPE OBS 39, HAWAII - Climate Summary".
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