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Alaska
72.8
New Hampshire
59.9
Vermont
58.4
Maine
57.6
New York
51.3
Massachusetts
44.3
Michigan
43.5
Connecticut
38.7
Minnesota
37.8
Colorado
36.9
Wisconsin
32.4
Rhode Island
31.0
Pennsylvania
29.0
West Virginia
25.5
North Dakota
25.0
Idaho
24.5
South Dakota
23.8
Iowa
23.4
Utah
22.6
Ohio
21.0
New Jersey
20.8
Nebraska
19.4
Illinois
18.6
Indiana
16.9
Washington
16.1
Wyoming
13.9
Maryland
13.5
Oregon
12.0
Nevada
11.7
Kansas
10.7
Montana
10.6
Missouri
10.4
New Mexico
10.0
Delaware
9.8
California
9.7
Virginia
8.9
Kentucky
6.8
Arizona
5.1
North Carolina
3.0
Oklahoma
3.0
Tennessee
2.5
Texas
2.0
Arkansas
1.4
South Carolina
0.5
Georgia
0.3
Mississippi
0.3
Alabama
0.2
Hawaii
0.2
Louisiana
0.1

Snowiest States 2024

Snowiest States 2024

Snow forms when the atmospheric temperature is at or below freezing (0ºC or 32ºF), and there is a minimum amount of moisture in the air. If the ground temperature is at or below freezing, then the snow will reach the ground. Atmospheric life is a vital process in snow production. Atmospheric lift is when warm air collides with cold air and is forced to rise over the frigid air mass. The boundary between these two air masses is called a front.

You have probably heard of the term lake effect snow. The lake effect is the reason why the states surrounding the great lakes experience heavy snowfalls. Frigid air blowing over a large, warmer body of water causes a massive snowstorm thanks to the lake’s moisture. Because moisture is a major factor in snow production, the coldest U.S. states do not always receive the most snowfall. Depending on the moisture levels present, some areas of states get more snowfall than other locations in the same state.

Snow can be both a blessing and a curse. Many people dream of a white Christmas. Winter sports enthusiasts hope for consistent, quality snowfall for skiing, snowboarding, snowmobiling, and other outdoor activities. Heavy snowstorms can cancel school and allow people to stay home from work. However, snow can also make driving dangerous, cause power outages and fallen trees, cancel flights, and cause icy conditions.

Snowiest States

1. Alaska

Unsurprisingly one of the coldest states in the U.S. Alaska is the snowiest state, receiving about 72.8 inches annually.

2. New Hampshire

New Hampshire receives an average of 59.9 inches annually, making it the second-snowiest U.S. state. The highest mountain peak in New Hampshire, Mt. Washington, receives around 23 feet of snowfall every year, making it one of the snowiest places in the United States.

3. Vermont

New Hampshire’s neighbor, Vermont, receives more snow per year than most states with an average of 58.4 inches. Vermont sees about 54 days of snow annually. In the 2018-2019 winter season, the state had 201 inches of snowfall.

4. Maine

Maine is the third-coldest state and the fourth-snowiest state in the United States. On average, Maine receives about 57.6 inches of snow and 28 days of snowfall. Caribou, the northernmost city in the contiguous United States, recently recorded 157 consecutive days of at least one inch of snowfall.

5. New York

New York receives an average of 51.3 inches of snow every year. Like Michigan, New York frequently receives lake effect snowfall, especially in cities such as Rochester and Buffalo.

6. Massachusetts

The sixth-snowiest state in the U.S. is the fourth New England state on the list. Massachusetts receives an average of 44.3 inches of snow annually, averaging five snow events each winter month. The northeastern and central areas of Massachusetts get hit the hardest by snow each year.

7. Michigan

Michigan is a victim of lake effect snow. The state as a whole receives 43.5 inches of snow on average per year. The eastern shore of Lake Michigan in the Lower Peninsula gets more snow annually than any other area of the state.

8. Connecticut

Unsurprisingly, another New England state makes the list of snowiest states in the U.S. With about 38.7 inches annually, Connecticut is the eighth-snowiest state in the country.

9. Minnesota

The ninth-snowiest state is Minnesota. Well-known for its cold, snowy winters, Minnesota receives about 37.8 inches of snow annually.

10. Colorado

Colorado receives the tenth-highest amount of snowfall annually in the country, which is good considering the state is known for its skiing. The state as a whole receives feet inches of snow annually, but this varies significantly across the state. Denver receives about 57 inches annually, while the mountains can get between 150 to over 400 inches of snow.

Snowiest States 2024

Snowfall totals were computed by compiling station-specific reporting data from the National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI).

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State
Annual Snowfall (in)
# of Stations
Alaska72.828
New Hampshire59.911
Vermont58.410
Maine57.615
New York51.322
Massachusetts44.311
Michigan43.526
Connecticut38.78
Minnesota37.832
Colorado36.933
Wisconsin32.424
Rhode Island31.02
Pennsylvania29.023
West Virginia25.511
North Dakota25.019
Idaho24.521
South Dakota23.817
Iowa23.417
Utah22.620
Ohio21.016
New Jersey20.89
Nebraska19.418
Illinois18.619
Indiana16.912
Washington16.120
Wyoming13.917
Maryland13.57
Oregon12.018
Nevada11.713
Kansas10.714
Montana10.624
Missouri10.412
New Mexico10.014
Delaware9.82
California9.725
Virginia8.911
Kentucky6.89
Arizona5.112
North Carolina3.07
Oklahoma3.06
Tennessee2.57
Texas2.010
Arkansas1.46
South Carolina0.53
Georgia0.34
Mississippi0.32
Alabama0.23
Hawaii0.21
Louisiana0.11
Florida
United States20.0672
showing: 50 rows

Snowiest States 2024

Sources