Special Report
Places With the Biggest Snowfall in History in Every State
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The first snow is just around the corner for most of the United States. Some may be dreading the onset of winter, while others may be wishing for a repeat of snowy wonderlands from their childhood. Based on how U.S. winters have been trending, however, most places are not likely to see anything close to their state’s record snowfall this year — or anytime soon.
In fact, total snowfall has decreased in many parts of North America, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Only six states have snowfall records that were set after 2010.
On the other hand, long term-patterns are not perfect predictors for short-term seasonal forecasts. The popular and longest continuously-running periodical in North America, The Old Farmer’s Almanac, predicts that the 2019-2020 winter season will be colder and wetter than usual.
Climate change is one reason we are on the whole experiencing less snowfall in the United States. Less snowfall is likely the least of our concerns — click here to climate disasters that will get worse if we do nothing to stop climate change. And here are the most common arguments used by climate deniers.
To determine the county with the most snowfall in recorded history in every state, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed data from the National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
Click here to see the places with the biggest snowfall in history in every state
Click here to see our detailed findings and full methodology
Alabama: Etowah
> County population: 103,132
> 1-day record: 1 foot, 7 inches, on March 13, 1993
> Station reporting: Walnut Grove
> Station elevation: 850 feet
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Alaska: Valdez-Cordova
> County population: 9,439
> 1-day record: 5 feet, 2 inches, on December 29, 1955
> Station reporting: Thompson Pass
> Station elevation: 2,503 feet
See all stories featuring: Alaska
Arizona: Coconino
> County population: 138,639
> 1-day record: 3 feet, 5 inches, on January 21, 2010
> Station reporting: Flagstaff 1.4 W
> Station elevation: 6,958 feet
See all stories featuring: Arizona
Arkansas: Clay
> County population: 15,190
> 1-day record: 2 feet, 1 inch, on January 22, 1918
> Station reporting: Corning
> Station elevation: 300 feet
See all stories featuring: Arkansas
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California: Yuba
> County population: 74,644
> 1-day record: 6 feet, 3 inches, on January 14, 1952
> Station reporting: Camptonville Rs
> Station elevation: 2,755 feet
See all stories featuring: California
Colorado: Boulder
> County population: 316,782
> 1-day record: 6 feet, 3 inches, on April 15, 1921
> Station reporting: Silver Lake
> Station elevation: 10,360 feet
See all stories featuring: Colorado
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Connecticut: New Haven
> County population: 862,127
> 1-day record: 3 feet, on February 9, 2013
> Station reporting: Ansonia 1 Ne
> Station elevation: 140 feet
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Delaware: Kent
> County population: 173,145
> 1-day record: 2 feet, 1 inch, on February 19, 1979
> Station reporting: Dover
> Station elevation: 30 feet
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Florida: Santa Rosa
> County population: 166,778
> 1-day record: 0 feet, 3 inches, on March 6, 1954
> Station reporting: Milton Exp Stn
> Station elevation: 217 feet
See all stories featuring: Florida
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Georgia: Murray
> County population: 39,444
> 1-day record: 1 foot, 7 inches, on March 14, 1993
> Station reporting: Beaverdale 1 E
> Station elevation: 740 feet
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Hawaii: Maui
> County population: 164,094
> 1-day record: 0 feet, 5 inches, on February 2, 1936
> Station reporting: Haleakala
> Station elevation: 9,757 feet
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Idaho: Benewah
> County population: 9,050
> 1-day record: 5 feet, on January 22, 1982
> Station reporting: Tensed
> Station elevation: 2,552 feet
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Illinois: Adams
> County population: 66,787
> 1-day record: 2 feet, on February 28, 1900
> Station reporting: Coatsburg
> Station elevation: -3,281 feet
See all stories featuring: Illinois
Indiana: St. Joseph
> County population: 268,613
> 1-day record: 2 feet, 2 inches, on January 8, 2011
> Station reporting: South Bend Michiana Rgnl Ap
> Station elevation: 773 feet
See all stories featuring: Indiana
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Iowa: Taylor
> County population: 6,214
> 1-day record: 2 feet, on April 20, 1918
> Station reporting: Lenox
> Station elevation: 1,295 feet
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Kansas: Pratt
> County population: 9,670
> 1-day record: 2 feet, 5 inches, on March 28, 2009
> Station reporting: Pratt
> Station elevation: 1,875 feet
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Kentucky: Pike
> County population: 61,586
> 1-day record: 2 feet, 2 inches, on March 3, 1942
> Station reporting: Simers
> Station elevation: 1,300 feet
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Louisiana: Terrebonne
> County population: 113,067
> 1-day record: 1 foot, 3 inches, on February 15, 1895
> Station reporting: Houma
> Station elevation: 08 feet
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Maine: Franklin
> County population: 30,177
> 1-day record: 3 feet, 5 inches, on December 22, 2008
> Station reporting: Eustis
> Station elevation: 1,260 feet
See all stories featuring: Maine
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Maryland: Garrett
> County population: 29,516
> 1-day record: 3 feet, on February 6, 2010
> Station reporting: Friendsville 48 Sw
> Station elevation: 2,284 feet
See all stories featuring: Maryland
Massachusetts: Worcester
> County population: 818,249
> 1-day record: 2 feet, 7 inches, on January 27, 2015
> Station reporting: Worcester Rgnl Ap
> Station elevation: 1,000 feet
See all stories featuring: Massachusetts
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Michigan: Ontonagon
> County population: 6,072
> 1-day record: 2 feet, 7 inches, on March 13, 2006
> Station reporting: Rockland 2 Sw
> Station elevation: 638 feet
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Minnesota: Lake
> County population: 10,578
> 1-day record: 3 feet, on January 7, 1994
> Station reporting: Wolf Ridge Elc
> Station elevation: 1,400 feet
See all stories featuring: Minnesota
Mississippi: Marshall
> County population: 35,981
> 1-day record: 1 foot, 5 inches, on December 23, 1963
> Station reporting: Mt Pleasant 4Sw
> Station elevation: 385 feet
See all stories featuring: Mississippi
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Missouri: Bates
> County population: 16,405
> 1-day record: 2 feet, on February 2, 2011
> Station reporting: Rich Hill 49 Se
> Station elevation: 768 feet
See all stories featuring: Missouri
Montana: Lewis and Clark
> County population: 66,290
> 1-day record: 4 feet, 3 inches, on March 9, 2006
> Station reporting: Lincoln Rs
> Station elevation: 4,575 feet
See all stories featuring: Montana
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Nebraska: Banner
> County population: 728
> 1-day record: 2 feet, 5 inches, on December 14, 1925
> Station reporting: Harrisburg 12Wnw
> Station elevation: 4,550 feet
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Nevada: Douglas
> County population: 47,632
> 1-day record: 3 feet, 8 inches, on April 4, 1958
> Station reporting: Glenbrook
> Station elevation: 6,350 feet
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New Hampshire: Coos
> County population: 32,119
> 1-day record: 4 feet, 1 inch, on February 25, 1969
> Station reporting: Mt Washington
> Station elevation: 6,267 feet
See all stories featuring: New Hampshire
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New Jersey: Somerset
> County population: 333,316
> 1-day record: 2 feet, 5 inches, on January 23, 2016
> Station reporting: Bernards Twp 15 S
> Station elevation: 225 feet
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New Mexico: Socorro
> County population: 17,098
> 1-day record: 3 feet, 4 inches, on February 3, 1964
> Station reporting: Kelly Rch
> Station elevation: 6,699 feet
See all stories featuring: New Mexico
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New York: Oneida
> County population: 232,324
> 1-day record: 4 feet, 2 inches, on February 1, 1966
> Station reporting: Camden
> Station elevation: 580 feet
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North Carolina: Yancey
> County population: 17,605
> 1-day record: 3 feet, on March 13, 1993
> Station reporting: Mt Mitchell
> Station elevation: 6,240 feet
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North Dakota: Ward
> County population: 69,628
> 1-day record: 2 feet, 3 inches, on April 27, 1984
> Station reporting: Minot Intl Ap
> Station elevation: 1,665 feet
See all stories featuring: North Dakota
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Ohio: Trumbull
> County population: 203,341
> 1-day record: 2 feet, 5 inches, on April 20, 1901
> Station reporting: Warren 3 S
> Station elevation: 900 feet
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Oklahoma: Woodward
> County population: 21,140
> 1-day record: 2 feet, 5 inches, on February 23, 1971
> Station reporting: Supply 1 E
> Station elevation: 1,972 feet
See all stories featuring: Oklahoma
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Oregon: Malheur
> County population: 30,421
> 1-day record: 5 feet, on April 8, 2009
> Station reporting: Riverside 7 Ssw
> Station elevation: 3,380 feet
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Pennsylvania: Wayne
> County population: 51,656
> 1-day record: 3 feet, 4 inches, on February 16, 1958
> Station reporting: Lakeville 2 Nne
> Station elevation: 1,440 feet
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Rhode Island: Providence
> County population: 633,704
> 1-day record: 2 feet, 5 inches, on February 7, 1978
> Station reporting: Woonsocket
> Station elevation: 110 feet
See all stories featuring: Rhode Island
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South Carolina: Sumter
> County population: 107,379
> 1-day record: 1 foot, 8 inches, on February 9, 1973
> Station reporting: Tilghman Forest Nurser
> Station elevation: 210 feet
See all stories featuring: South Carolina
South Dakota: Lawrence
> County population: 25,018
> 1-day record: 4 feet, 3 inches, on March 14, 1973
> Station reporting: Lead
> Station elevation: 5,350 feet
See all stories featuring: South Dakota
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Tennessee: Sevier
> County population: 95,523
> 1-day record: 2 feet, 5 inches, on March 14, 1993
> Station reporting: Mt Leconte
> Station elevation: 6,493 feet
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Texas: Lipscomb
> County population: 3,495
> 1-day record: 2 feet, 1 inch, on March 28, 2009
> Station reporting: Follett
> Station elevation: 2,770 feet
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Utah: Salt Lake
> County population: 1,106,700
> 1-day record: 3 feet, 2 inches, on December 2, 1982
> Station reporting: Alta
> Station elevation: 8,730 feet
See all stories featuring: Utah
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Vermont: Orleans
> County population: 26,951
> 1-day record: 3 feet, 5 inches, on February 5, 1995
> Station reporting: Jay Peak
> Station elevation: 1,840 feet
See all stories featuring: Vermont
Virginia: Loudoun
> County population: 374,558
> 1-day record: 3 feet, 1 inch, on January 24, 2016
> Station reporting: Round Hill 2.7 Wsw
> Station elevation: 696 feet
See all stories featuring: Virginia
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Washington: Pierce
> County population: 845,193
> 1-day record: 5 feet, 8 inches, on November 26, 1955
> Station reporting: Rainier Paradise Rs
> Station elevation: 5,427 feet
See all stories featuring: Washington
West Virginia: Preston
> County population: 33,760
> 1-day record: 3 feet, 1 inch, on February 21, 2003
> Station reporting: Coopers Rock Sf
> Station elevation: 2,280 feet
See all stories featuring: West Virginia
Wisconsin: Iron
> County population: 5,748
> 1-day record: 2 feet, 2 inches, on March 13, 2006
> Station reporting: Upson
> Station elevation: 1,497 feet
See all stories featuring: Wisconsin
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Wyoming: Johnson
> County population: 8,562
> 1-day record: 4 feet, 1 inch, on March 21, 1924
> Station reporting: Hunters Stn
> Station elevation: 7,405 feet
See all stories featuring: Wyoming
Detailed Findings
One exception in the United States to the declining snowfall pattern is the Great Lakes region, which now gets more snow than in the past. This is because the atmosphere can hold more water as the Earth warms — specifically, for every degree Fahrenheit rise, the atmosphere can hold 4% more water. The longer the lakes don’t freeze, the more evaporation there is, leading to possibly more lake-effect snow.
The likelihood of heavy snowfall elsewhere may be dropping, but snowfall overall may not decline so significantly — instead, precipitation is occurring in longer stretches, over a period of several days. This was not always the case.
Records date back to 1872, when Kings County, or Brooklyn, got 27 inches, or more than 2 feet of snow, in just one day.
This may seem like a lot, but compared to other, older records, it really isn’t. Imagine getting 6 feet and 4 inches in 24 hours, which occurred in Boulder County, Colorado, in 1921. This is the largest single-day snowfall on record. It’s enough to bury you.
Maybe you do not have to worry about record snowfalls. Until about half a century ago, it was normal during a typical winter for more than 50 inches of snow to fall on at least one day. Over the last decade, record single-day snowfall has exceeded 50 inches only once.
Methodology
To determine the county with the most extreme snowfall in recorded history in each state, 24/7 Wall St. looked at the one-day snowfall extreme data from the National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Snowfall data is up-to-date as of Oct. 22, 2018. Station name, location, and elevation also came from the NCEI, and total population is from the American Community Survey 2017 5-Year Estimates.
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