Special Report

The Biggest Snowfall on Record in Every State

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If there is one source of endless fun and wonder when we are kids but endless grief and frustration when we are adults, it is snow. Sledding, snow angels, and pristine white blankets give way to shoveling, trudging through slush, and dealing with having a snowed-in car. And every state has had its fair share of snow. 

Certain parts of the country are basically synonymous with snow. If Alaska and Vermont make it through the winter without any significant snowfall, then we are in serious trouble. But it is not every day that you see more than 3 feet of snow piling up in Arizona or New Mexico – yet sometimes even that happens.

To identify the places with the biggest snowfall in history in every state, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed historical snowfall data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Centers for Environmental Information database of Snowfall Extremes. The counties and county equivalents listed had the largest three-day snowfall on record in the state. (The date listed represents the final day of the two or three-day snowfall period. The two-day and one-day record totals listed are the highest in the county or county equivalent and not necessarily the state as a whole.) 

It is expected that northern and Midwestern states are going to get mountains of snowfall every winter, but the snow events that found their way into the record books in these states are truly exceptional. For example, the deadly blizzard that hit Buffalo, New York, over Christmas 2022 dumped 4.25 feet of snow on the area. The state record, however, which also fell on Buffalo, pummeled the city with more than 7 feet of snow in three days in November 2014. (Here are the 25 worst holiday storms of all time.)

Surprisingly, perhaps, Arizona’s biggest three-day snowfall was even larger, at nearly 8 feet, in Coconino County, which encompasses Flagstaff and the Grand Canyon, on Jan. 22, 2010. Not surprising, the biggest snowfalls in Florida amounted to 4 inches only – in Santa Rosa in March 1954. 

Alaska had the biggest three-day snowfall when 12 feet 3 inches fell in the last few days of 1955 in the Chugach Census Area along the Gulf of Alaska. The second biggest three-day snowfall was in Siskiyou County, the northernmost county in California, when 11 feet 3 inches fell in February 1959. (See also the coldest day ever recorded in every state.)

Click here to see the biggest snowfall on record in every state,

Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

Alabama: Pickens County
> Largest 3-day snowfall: 1 foot, 10 inches (1/24/1940)
> Largest 2-day snowfall: 1 foot, 10 inches (1/24/1940)
> Largest 1-day snowfall: 1 foot, 6.5 inches (1/23/1940)
> Largest place in county: Aliceville

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cweimer4 / iStock via Getty Images

Alaska: Chugach Census Area
> Largest 3-day snowfall: 12 feet, 3 inches (12/30/1955)
> Largest 2-day snowfall: 10 feet, 0.6 inches (12/30/1955)
> Largest 1-day snowfall: 5 feet, 2 inches (12/29/1955)
> Largest place in county: Valdez

dsoltesz / Flickr

Arizona: Coconino County
> Largest 3-day snowfall: 7 feet, 11 inch (1/22/2010)
> Largest 2-day snowfall: 6 feet, 5 inches (1/22/2010)
> Largest 1-day snowfall: 3 feet, 6 inches (1/21/2010)
> Largest place in county: Flagstaff

uacescomm / Flickr

Arkansas: Clay County
> Largest 3-day snowfall: 2 feet, 1 inch (1/22/1918)
> Largest 2-day snowfall: 2 feet, 1 inch (1/22/1918)
> Largest 1-day snowfall: 2 feet, 1 inch (1/22/1918)
> Largest place in county: Piggott

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Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

California: Siskiyou County
> Largest 3-day snowfall: 11 feet, 3 inches (2/18/1959)
> Largest 2-day snowfall: 8 feet, 7 inches (2/17/1959)
> Largest 1-day snowfall: 5 feet, 3 inches (1/2/1901)
> Largest place in county: Yreka

Colorado: Mineral County
> Largest 3-day snowfall: 8 feet, 8 inches (1/28/1956)
> Largest 2-day snowfall: 7 feet, 6 inches (1/28/1956)
> Largest 1-day snowfall: 4 feet, 7 inches (1/14/1997)
> Largest place in county: Creede

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Connecticut: Middlesex County
> Largest 3-day snowfall: 4 feet, 2 inches (3/14/1888)
> Largest 2-day snowfall: 3 feet, 10 inches (3/13/1888)
> Largest 1-day snowfall: 2 feet, 6 inches (2/9/2013)
> Largest place in county: Middletown

Delaware: Sussex County
> Largest 3-day snowfall: 2 feet, 5 inches (2/8/2010)
> Largest 2-day snowfall: 2 feet, 5 inches (2/7/2010)
> Largest 1-day snowfall: 2 feet (2/13/1899)
> Largest place in county: Seaford

Santa Rosa County / Twitter

Florida: Santa Rosa County
> Largest 3-day snowfall: 4 inches (3/6/1954)
> Largest 2-day snowfall: 4 inches (3/6/1954)
> Largest 1-day snowfall: 4 inches (3/6/1954)
> Largest place in county: Pace

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Georgia: Walker County
> Largest 3-day snowfall: 1 foot, 9 inches (3/14/1993)
> Largest 2-day snowfall: 1 foot, 9 inches (3/14/1993)
> Largest 1-day snowfall: 1 foot, 1.5 inches (1/23/1940)
> Largest place in county: LaFayette

unclegene / iStock via Getty Images

Hawaii: Maui County
> Largest 3-day snowfall: 1 foot, 3.5 inches (2/3/1936)
> Largest 2-day snowfall: 11.5 inches (2/3/1936)
> Largest 1-day snowfall: 6.5 inches (2/2/1936)
> Largest place in county: Kahului

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39955793@N07 / Flickr

Idaho: Elmore County
> Largest 3-day snowfall: 8 feet, 2 inches (10/3/1969)
> Largest 2-day snowfall: 5 feet, 6 inches (10/2/1969)
> Largest 1-day snowfall: 2 feet, 10 inches (10/20/1969)
> Largest place in county: Mountain Home

patty_c / iStock via Getty Images

Illinois: Lake County
> Largest 3-day snowfall: 2 feet, 3.9 inches (1/5/2015)
> Largest 2-day snowfall: 2 feet, 3 inches (1/4/2015)
> Largest 1-day snowfall: 1 foot, 10.8 inches (2/2/2011)
> Largest place in county: Waukegan

Indiana: LaPorte County
> Largest 3-day snowfall: 3 feet, 5.1 inch (1/6/2018)
> Largest 2-day snowfall: 2 feet, 10.2 inches (1/5/2018)
> Largest 1-day snowfall: 1 foot, 10 inches (2/4/2009)
> Largest place in county: Michigan City

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Iowa: Dallas County
> Largest 3-day snowfall: 2 feet, 5 inches (3/10/1909)
> Largest 2-day snowfall: 2 feet, 5 inches (3/10/1909)
> Largest 1-day snowfall: 1 foot, 4 inches (3/16/2004)
> Largest place in county: Waukee

TriggerPhoto / iStock via Getty Images

Kansas: Johnson County
> Largest 3-day snowfall: 3 feet, 1 inch (3/24/1912)
> Largest 2-day snowfall: 3 feet, 1 inch (3/24/1912)
> Largest 1-day snowfall: 1 foot, 8 inches (3/23/1912)
> Largest place in county: Overland Park

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Kentucky: Madison County
> Largest 3-day snowfall: 3 feet, 5 inches (2/6/1998)
> Largest 2-day snowfall: 2 feet, 6.5 inches (2/5/1998)
> Largest 1-day snowfall: 1 foot, 8.2 inches (1/8/1942)
> Largest place in county: Richmond

Louisiana: Terrebonne Parish
> Largest 3-day snowfall: 1 foot, 4 inches (2/15/1895)
> Largest 2-day snowfall: 1 foot, 4 inches (2/15/1895)
> Largest 1-day snowfall: 1 foot, 4 inches (2/15/1895)
> Largest place in county: Houma

Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

Maine: Somerset County
> Largest 3-day snowfall: 4 feet, 9 inches (2/27/1969)
> Largest 2-day snowfall: 4 feet, 1 inch (2/27/1969)
> Largest 1-day snowfall: 2 feet, 6 inches (2/26/1969)
> Largest place in county: Skowhegan

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JZHunt / iStock via Getty Images

Maryland: Allegany County
> Largest 3-day snowfall: 3 feet, 4 inches (3/15/1993)
> Largest 2-day snowfall: 3 feet (3/15/1993)
> Largest 1-day snowfall: 2 feet, 6 inches (3/14/1993)
> Largest place in county: Cumberland

DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images

Massachusetts: Essex County
> Largest 3-day snowfall: 3 feet, 7.9 inches (2/8/1978)
> Largest 2-day snowfall: 3 feet, 7.7 inches (2/8/1978)
> Largest 1-day snowfall: 2 feet, 7 inches (2/7/1978)
> Largest place in county: Lynn

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Michigan: Emmet County
> Largest 3-day snowfall: 5 feet (12/27/2001)
> Largest 2-day snowfall: 3 feet, 8 inches (12/26/2001)
> Largest 1-day snowfall: 2 feet (12/26/2001)
> Largest place in county: Petoskey

Minnesota: Lake County
> Largest 3-day snowfall: 3 feet, 10.5 inches (1/8/1994)
> Largest 2-day snowfall: 3 feet, 9 inches (1/7/1994)
> Largest 1-day snowfall: 3 feet (1/7/1994)
> Largest place in county: Two Harbors

BOB WESTON / iStock

Mississippi: Marshall County
> Largest 3-day snowfall: 1 foot, 6 inches (12/23/1963)
> Largest 2-day snowfall: 1 foot, 6 inches (12/23/1963)
> Largest 1-day snowfall: 1 foot, 6 inches (12/23/1963)
> Largest place in county: Holly Springs

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Missouri: Newton County
> Largest 3-day snowfall: 2 feet, 3.6 inches (3/17/1970)
> Largest 2-day snowfall: 2 feet, 3.6 inches (3/17/1970)
> Largest 1-day snowfall: 1 foot, 10 inches (3/14/1999)
> Largest place in county: Joplin

Montana: Carbon County
> Largest 3-day snowfall: 6 feet, 1 inch (4/27/1984)
> Largest 2-day snowfall: 5 feet (4/26/1984)
> Largest 1-day snowfall: 3 feet (10/26/1996)
> Largest place in county: Red Lodge

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Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

Nebraska: Sheridan County
> Largest 3-day snowfall: 3 feet, 7.5 inches (4/14/1927)
> Largest 2-day snowfall: 2 feet, 11 inch (4/14/1927)
> Largest 1-day snowfall: 1 foot, 9 inches (4/14/1927)
> Largest place in county: Gordon

Nevada: Douglas County
> Largest 3-day snowfall: 6 feet, 9 inches (4/4/1958)
> Largest 2-day snowfall: 5 feet, 8 inches (4/4/1958)
> Largest 1-day snowfall: 3 feet, 9 inches (4/4/1958)
> Largest place in county: Gardnerville Ranchos

Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

New Hampshire: Coos County
> Largest 3-day snowfall: 7 feet, 7.1 inch (2/27/1969)
> Largest 2-day snowfall: 6 feet, 5.1 inch (2/26/1969)
> Largest 1-day snowfall: 4 feet, 1.3 inches (2/25/1969)
> Largest place in county: Berlin

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Aneese / iStock via Getty Images

New Jersey: Cape May County
> Largest 3-day snowfall: 2 feet, 10 inches (2/14/1899)
> Largest 2-day snowfall: 2 feet, 5 inches (2/14/1899)
> Largest 1-day snowfall: 1 foot, 10 inches (12/27/2010)
> Largest place in county: Ocean City

New Mexico: Rio Arriba County
> Largest 3-day snowfall: 6 feet, 2 inches (1/28/1916)
> Largest 2-day snowfall: 4 feet, 9 inches (1/28/1916)
> Largest 1-day snowfall: 3 feet (11/22/1931)
> Largest place in county: Española

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iStock / Getty Images Plus

New York: Erie County
> Largest 3-day snowfall: 7 feet, 2.5 inches (11/20/2014)
> Largest 2-day snowfall: 4 feet, 3 inches (11/19/2014)
> Largest 1-day snowfall: 3 feet, 11.5 inches (11/20/2014)
> Largest place in county: Buffalo

Frederik Flagstad / iStock via Getty Images

North Carolina: Yancey County
> Largest 3-day snowfall: 4 feet, 2 inches (3/14/1993)
> Largest 2-day snowfall: 4 feet, 1 inch (3/14/1993)
> Largest 1-day snowfall: 3 feet (3/13/1993)
> Largest place in county: Burnsville

North Dakota: Ransom County
> Largest 3-day snowfall: 2 feet, 11 inch (2/15/1915)
> Largest 2-day snowfall: 2 feet, 10 inches (2/15/1915)
> Largest 1-day snowfall: 2 feet (2/15/1915)
> Largest place in county: Lisbon

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Ohio: Licking County
> Largest 3-day snowfall: 3 feet, 6 inches (4/21/1901)
> Largest 2-day snowfall: 2 feet, 10 inches (4/20/1901)
> Largest 1-day snowfall: 2 feet, 1 inch (4/20/1901)
> Largest place in county: Newark

JERRYE & ROY KLOTZ MD / Wikimedia Commons

Oklahoma: Harper County
> Largest 3-day snowfall: 3 feet (2/22/1971)
> Largest 2-day snowfall: 3 feet (2/22/1971)
> Largest 1-day snowfall: 1 foot, 11 inch (2/21/1971)
> Largest place in county: Laverne

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Oregon: Malheur County
> Largest 3-day snowfall: 7 feet, 1 inch (4/10/2009)
> Largest 2-day snowfall: 5 feet, 4 inches (4/9/2009)
> Largest 1-day snowfall: 5 feet (4/8/2009)
> Largest place in county: Ontario

Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

Pennsylvania: Chester County
> Largest 3-day snowfall: 4 feet, 4.4 inches (2/14/1899)
> Largest 2-day snowfall: 3 feet, 9.3 inches (2/14/1899)
> Largest 1-day snowfall: 2 feet, 11.3 inches (2/13/1899)
> Largest place in county: West Chester

Rhode Island: Providence County
> Largest 3-day snowfall: 3 feet, 2 inches (2/8/1978)
> Largest 2-day snowfall: 3 feet, 2 inches (2/8/1978)
> Largest 1-day snowfall: 2 feet, 6 inches (2/7/1978)
> Largest place in county: Providence

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South Carolina: Greenville County
> Largest 3-day snowfall: 2 feet, 4.9 inches (2/18/1969)
> Largest 2-day snowfall: 1 foot, 4.5 inches (1/8/1988)
> Largest 1-day snowfall: 1 foot, 3 inches (2/15/1902)
> Largest place in county: Greenville

usfwsmtnprairie / Flickr

South Dakota: Lawrence County
> Largest 3-day snowfall: 6 feet, 2.1 inch (2/27/1998)
> Largest 2-day snowfall: 4 feet, 11.4 inches (4/19/2006)
> Largest 1-day snowfall: 4 feet, 4 inches (3/14/1973)
> Largest place in county: Spearfish

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Kruck20 / iStock via Getty Images

Tennessee: Sevier County
> Largest 3-day snowfall: 5 feet (3/14/1993)
> Largest 2-day snowfall: 5 feet (3/14/1993)
> Largest 1-day snowfall: 2 feet, 6 inches (3/14/1993)
> Largest place in county: Sevierville

BOB WESTON / iStock via Getty Images

Texas: Hale County
> Largest 3-day snowfall: 2 feet, 5.5 inches (2/4/1956)
> Largest 2-day snowfall: 2 feet, 1.5 inches (2/4/1956)
> Largest 1-day snowfall: 2 feet (2/4/1956)
> Largest place in county: Plainview

107640324@N05 / Flickr

Utah: Salt Lake County
> Largest 3-day snowfall: 6 feet, 7 inches (12/3/1982)
> Largest 2-day snowfall: 5 feet, 5 inches (12/2/1982)
> Largest 1-day snowfall: 3 feet, 2 inches (12/2/1982)
> Largest place in county: Salt Lake City

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Vermont: Orleans County
> Largest 3-day snowfall: 4 feet (2/6/1995)
> Largest 2-day snowfall: 4 feet (2/6/1995)
> Largest 1-day snowfall: 3 feet, 6 inches (2/5/1995)
> Largest place in county: Newport

Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

Virginia: Madison County
> Largest 3-day snowfall: 4 feet, 1 inch (1/8/1996)
> Largest 2-day snowfall: 4 feet (1/7/1996)
> Largest 1-day snowfall: 2 feet, 9 inches (3/6/1962)
> Largest place in county: Madison

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Sung Jun Oem / iStock

Washington: Pierce County
> Largest 3-day snowfall: 7 feet, 4 inches (1/25/1971)
> Largest 2-day snowfall: 5 feet, 10 inches (11/27/1955)
> Largest 1-day snowfall: 5 feet, 10 inches (11/26/1955)
> Largest place in county: Tacoma

West Virginia: Harrison County
> Largest 3-day snowfall: 4 feet, 9.2 inches (11/26/1950)
> Largest 2-day snowfall: 3 feet, 4.5 inches (11/25/1950)
> Largest 1-day snowfall: 2 feet (11/25/1950)
> Largest place in county: Clarksburg

Wisconsin: Washburn County
> Largest 3-day snowfall: 3 feet, 6 inches (3/15/1899)
> Largest 2-day snowfall: 2 feet (4/1/1896)
> Largest 1-day snowfall: 2 feet (3/13/1899)
> Largest place in county: Spooner

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Wyoming: Johnson County
> Largest 3-day snowfall: 5 feet, 1 inch (3/22/1924)
> Largest 2-day snowfall: 4 feet, 11 inch (3/21/1924)
> Largest 1-day snowfall: 4 feet, 1 inch (3/21/1924)
> Largest place in county: Buffalo

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