Snowiest States

Avg. Annual Snowfall
Avg. Annual Snowfall
1.New HampshireNew Hampshire174.35 in
2.MaineMaine92 in
3.VermontVermont80.2 in
4.AlaskaAlaska79.6 in
5.WyomingWyoming77.33 in
6.MichiganMichigan70.38 in
7.New YorkNew York61.21 in
8.UtahUtah58.2 in
9.MinnesotaMinnesota57.76 in
10.MassachusettsMassachusetts57.67 in
11.MontanaMontana49.81 in
12.WisconsinWisconsin46.23 in
13.West VirginiaWest Virginia44.17 in
14.North DakotaNorth Dakota43.4 in
15.PennsylvaniaPennsylvania42.24 in
16.OhioOhio40.4 in
17.South DakotaSouth Dakota39.83 in
18.ConnecticutConnecticut38.85 in
19.IowaIowa36.17 in
20.ColoradoColorado36 in
21.Rhode IslandRhode Island36 in
22.IndianaIndiana33.25 in
23.NebraskaNebraska31.19 in
24.IllinoisIllinois31.12 in
25.ArizonaArizona29.53 in
26.NevadaNevada27.92 in
27.IdahoIdaho25.17 in
28.New JerseyNew Jersey23.9 in
29.KansasKansas21.48 in
30.DelawareDelaware20.6 in
31.WashingtonWashington20.18 in
32.MarylandMaryland19.7 in
33.MissouriMissouri18.55 in
34.KentuckyKentucky16.35 in
35.New MexicoNew Mexico13.73 in
36.VirginiaVirginia13.12 in
37.OklahomaOklahoma8.9 in
38.OregonOregon8.82 in
39.TennesseeTennessee7.92 in
40.North CarolinaNorth Carolina5.88 in
41.ArkansasArkansas4.95 in
42.South CarolinaSouth Carolina3.4 in
43.TexasTexas2.88 in
44.AlabamaAlabama1.5 in
45.MississippiMississippi1.3 in
46.GeorgiaGeorgia1.13 in
47.CaliforniaCalifornia0.88 in
48.LouisianaLouisiana0.48 in
49.FloridaFlorida0.01 in
50.HawaiiHawaii0 in

America's Snowiest States

For many, winter means one thing: snow. When the temperature falls below the freezing point, and atmospheric conditions are just right, it can create beautifully serene landscapes and epic opportunities for winter sports enthusiasts. However, this natural phenomenon varies widely across the United States, with some states seeing an abundance of the white stuff, while others receive little to none. Key findings from the data include:

  • Topping the list is New Hampshire, which is crowned as the nation's snowiest state with an average annual snowfall of a whopping 174.35 inches. The other two states rounding out the top three, Maine and Vermont, also belong to the New England region, confirming the area's reputation as a winter wonderland.
  • A connection can be observed between many of the states that score high on the list and their proximity to large bodies of water such as the Great Lakes. For instance, Michigan, with an average of 70.38 inches of snow, and New York, with 61.21 inches, both demonstrate the well-known 'lake effect' snow phenomenon, thanks to their proximity to the Great Lakes.
  • Alaska, while one of the coldest states in the U.S., didn't feature as high on snowfall as one might expect. Its average annual snowfall of 79.6 inches places it fourth in the lineup. This highlights that high snowfall isn't solely tied to colder temperatures, but also depends on factors like moisture levels and atmospheric lift.
  • Hawai'i stands as the only U.S. state where no snowfall is recorded on average. However, if one were to venture up to the Mauna Kea or Mauna Loa peaks, they'd surely find a snowy surprise.
  • States in the southern region like Louisiana, Georgia, and Mississippi, with less than 2 inches of snow each year, underline the regional difference in snowfall across the U.S.

10 Snowiest States

Topping the list with the highest average Annual Snowfall is New Hampshire, establishing it as the snowiest state in the United States with a dazzling 174.35 inches of snow each year. Following closely, Maine blankets itself with an average of 92 inches of the white stuff annually, holding the second position. Vermont, graced with 80.2 inches of snow annually, sets it as the third snowiest state. Alaska, which is surprisingly fourth on the list, sees an average of 79.6 inches of snow each year despite being one of the coldest states. Wyoming claims the fifth spot with a respectable 77.33 inches of snowfall on a yearly average. Michigan witnesses plentiful 'lake effect' snowfalls, with an annual average snowfall of 70.38 inches, making it the sixth snowiest state. New York state also experiences this phenomenon and ranks seventh with an average snowfall of 61.21 inches. The states with the eighth, ninth, and tenth highest snowfalls are Utah, Minnesota, and Massachusetts, with annual averages of 58.2, 57.76, and 57.67 inches respectively. 10 Snowiest States based on 'Average Annual Snowfall':

  1. New Hampshire - 174.35 inches
  2. Maine - 92 inches
  3. Vermont - 80.2 inches
  4. Alaska - 79.6 inches
  5. Wyoming - 77.33 inches
  6. Michigan - 70.38 inches
  7. New York - 61.21 inches
  8. Utah - 58.2 inches
  9. Minnesota - 57.76 inches
  10. Massachusetts - 57.67 inches

By Region

Alabama

See Less
Alabama

Metric

Value

Rank

Avg. Annual Snowfall

1.5 in

#44

Alaska

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Alaska

Metric

Value

Rank

Avg. Annual Snowfall

79.6 in

#4

Arizona

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Arizona

Metric

Value

Rank

Avg. Annual Snowfall

29.53 in

#25

Arkansas

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Arkansas

Metric

Value

Rank

Avg. Annual Snowfall

4.95 in

#41

California

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California

Metric

Value

Rank

Avg. Annual Snowfall

0.88 in

#47

Colorado

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Colorado

Metric

Value

Rank

Avg. Annual Snowfall

36 in

#20

Connecticut

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Connecticut

Metric

Value

Rank

Avg. Annual Snowfall

38.85 in

#18

Delaware

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Delaware

Metric

Value

Rank

Avg. Annual Snowfall

20.6 in

#30

Florida

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Florida

Metric

Value

Rank

Avg. Annual Snowfall

0.01 in

#49

Georgia

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Georgia

Metric

Value

Rank

Avg. Annual Snowfall

1.13 in

#46

Hawaii

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Hawaii

Metric

Value

Rank

Avg. Annual Snowfall

0 in

#50

Idaho

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Idaho

Metric

Value

Rank

Avg. Annual Snowfall

25.17 in

#27

Illinois

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Illinois

Metric

Value

Rank

Avg. Annual Snowfall

31.12 in

#24

Indiana

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Indiana

Metric

Value

Rank

Avg. Annual Snowfall

33.25 in

#22

Iowa

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Iowa

Metric

Value

Rank

Avg. Annual Snowfall

36.17 in

#19

Kansas

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Kansas

Metric

Value

Rank

Avg. Annual Snowfall

21.48 in

#29

Kentucky

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Kentucky

Metric

Value

Rank

Avg. Annual Snowfall

16.35 in

#34

Louisiana

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Louisiana

Metric

Value

Rank

Avg. Annual Snowfall

0.48 in

#48

Maine

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Maine

Metric

Value

Rank

Avg. Annual Snowfall

92 in

#2

Maryland

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Maryland

Metric

Value

Rank

Avg. Annual Snowfall

19.7 in

#32

Massachusetts

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Massachusetts

Metric

Value

Rank

Avg. Annual Snowfall

57.67 in

#10

Michigan

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Michigan

Metric

Value

Rank

Avg. Annual Snowfall

70.38 in

#6

Minnesota

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Minnesota

Metric

Value

Rank

Avg. Annual Snowfall

57.76 in

#9

Mississippi

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Mississippi

Metric

Value

Rank

Avg. Annual Snowfall

1.3 in

#45

Missouri

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Missouri

Metric

Value

Rank

Avg. Annual Snowfall

18.55 in

#33

Montana

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Montana

Metric

Value

Rank

Avg. Annual Snowfall

49.81 in

#11

Nebraska

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Nebraska

Metric

Value

Rank

Avg. Annual Snowfall

31.19 in

#23

Nevada

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Nevada

Metric

Value

Rank

Avg. Annual Snowfall

27.92 in

#26

New Hampshire

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New Hampshire

Metric

Value

Rank

Avg. Annual Snowfall

174.35 in

#1

New Jersey

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New Jersey

Metric

Value

Rank

Avg. Annual Snowfall

23.9 in

#28

New Mexico

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New Mexico

Metric

Value

Rank

Avg. Annual Snowfall

13.73 in

#35

New York

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New York

Metric

Value

Rank

Avg. Annual Snowfall

61.21 in

#7

North Carolina

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North Carolina

Metric

Value

Rank

Avg. Annual Snowfall

5.88 in

#40

North Dakota

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North Dakota

Metric

Value

Rank

Avg. Annual Snowfall

43.4 in

#14

Ohio

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Ohio

Metric

Value

Rank

Avg. Annual Snowfall

40.4 in

#16

Oklahoma

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Oklahoma

Metric

Value

Rank

Avg. Annual Snowfall

8.9 in

#37

Oregon

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Oregon

Metric

Value

Rank

Avg. Annual Snowfall

8.82 in

#38

Pennsylvania

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Pennsylvania

Metric

Value

Rank

Avg. Annual Snowfall

42.24 in

#15

Rhode Island

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Rhode Island

Metric

Value

Rank

Avg. Annual Snowfall

36 in

#21

South Carolina

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South Carolina

Metric

Value

Rank

Avg. Annual Snowfall

3.4 in

#42

South Dakota

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South Dakota

Metric

Value

Rank

Avg. Annual Snowfall

39.83 in

#17

Tennessee

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Tennessee

Metric

Value

Rank

Avg. Annual Snowfall

7.92 in

#39

Texas

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Texas

Metric

Value

Rank

Avg. Annual Snowfall

2.88 in

#43

Utah

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Utah

Metric

Value

Rank

Avg. Annual Snowfall

58.2 in

#8

Vermont

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Vermont

Metric

Value

Rank

Avg. Annual Snowfall

80.2 in

#3

Virginia

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Virginia

Metric

Value

Rank

Avg. Annual Snowfall

13.12 in

#36

Washington

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Washington

Metric

Value

Rank

Avg. Annual Snowfall

20.18 in

#31

West Virginia

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West Virginia

Metric

Value

Rank

Avg. Annual Snowfall

44.17 in

#13

Wisconsin

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Wisconsin

Metric

Value

Rank

Avg. Annual Snowfall

46.23 in

#12

Wyoming

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Wyoming

Metric

Value

Rank

Avg. Annual Snowfall

77.33 in

#5

Table

Region ↕Avg. Annual Snowfall ↕
Alabama iconAlabama1.5 in
Alaska iconAlaska79.6 in
Arizona iconArizona29.53 in
Arkansas iconArkansas4.95 in
California iconCalifornia0.88 in
Colorado iconColorado36 in
Connecticut iconConnecticut38.85 in
Delaware iconDelaware20.6 in
Florida iconFlorida0.01 in
Georgia iconGeorgia1.13 in
Hawaii iconHawaii0 in
Idaho iconIdaho25.17 in
Illinois iconIllinois31.12 in
Indiana iconIndiana33.25 in
Iowa iconIowa36.17 in
Kansas iconKansas21.48 in
Kentucky iconKentucky16.35 in
Louisiana iconLouisiana0.48 in
Maine iconMaine92 in
Maryland iconMaryland19.7 in
Massachusetts iconMassachusetts57.67 in
Michigan iconMichigan70.38 in
Minnesota iconMinnesota57.76 in
Mississippi iconMississippi1.3 in
Missouri iconMissouri18.55 in
Montana iconMontana49.81 in
Nebraska iconNebraska31.19 in
Nevada iconNevada27.92 in
New Hampshire iconNew Hampshire174.35 in
New Jersey iconNew Jersey23.9 in
New Mexico iconNew Mexico13.73 in
New York iconNew York61.21 in
North Carolina iconNorth Carolina5.88 in
North Dakota iconNorth Dakota43.4 in
Ohio iconOhio40.4 in
Oklahoma iconOklahoma8.9 in
Oregon iconOregon8.82 in
Pennsylvania iconPennsylvania42.24 in
Rhode Island iconRhode Island36 in
South Carolina iconSouth Carolina3.4 in
South Dakota iconSouth Dakota39.83 in
Tennessee iconTennessee7.92 in
Texas iconTexas2.88 in
Utah iconUtah58.2 in
Vermont iconVermont80.2 in
Virginia iconVirginia13.12 in
Washington iconWashington20.18 in
West Virginia iconWest Virginia44.17 in
Wisconsin iconWisconsin46.23 in
Wyoming iconWyoming77.33 in
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