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.Â
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.Â
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.Â
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).Â
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
Source: Tony Bearden and Mike Wilhelm via National Weather Service
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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Source: Joseph / Flickr
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
Source: Deborah Lee Soltesz / Flickr
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
Source: National Weather Service
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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Source: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
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
Source: beklaus / Getty Images
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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Source: Metropolitan Transportation Authority of the State of New York / Flickr
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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Source: George Eppig / Getty Images
Delaware: Kent
> County population: 173,145
> 1-day record: 2 feet, 1 inch, on February 19, 1979
> Station reporting: Dover
> Station elevation: 30 feet
See all stories featuring: Delaware
Source: George Dodd / Getty Images
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
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Source: michchap / Flickr
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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Source: ehabaref / iStock
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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Source: Jeff T. Green / Getty Images
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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Source: benkrut / iStock
Illinois: Adams
> County population: 66,787
> 1-day record: 2 feet, on February 28, 1900
> Station reporting: Coatsburg
> Station elevation: -3,281 feet
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Source: Doug Plencner / Flickr
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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Source: Jimmy Emerson, DVM / Flickr
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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Source: Andrew Johnston / Flickr
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
See all stories featuring: Kansas
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Source: 6381380 / iStock
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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Source: Maude Reid / Wikimedia Commons
Louisiana: Terrebonne
> County population: 113,067
> 1-day record: 1 foot, 3 inches, on February 15, 1895
> Station reporting: Houma
> Station elevation: 08 feet
See all stories featuring: Louisiana
Source: Back2reality07 / Wikimedia Commons
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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Source: Maryland National Guard / Flickr
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
Source: Aria1561 / Wikimedia Commons
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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Source: Joe Passe / Flickr
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
See all stories featuring: Michigan
Source: RCDIGITALPHOTOGRAPHY / Getty Images
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
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Source: BOB WESTON / iStock
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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Source: Baylor98 / Wikimedia Commons
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
Source: Eva Vincent / Flickr
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
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Source: Ammodramus / Wikimedia Commons
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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Source: johnrandallalves / istock
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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Source: ScottOrr / Getty Images
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
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Source: Jerrye & Roy Klotz, MD / Wikimedia Commons
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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Source: Patrick Nouhailler / Flickr
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
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Source: Jayu / Wikimedia Commons
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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Source: National Weather Service
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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Source: The West End / Flickr
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
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Source: Alliance Historical Society / Public Domain
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
See all stories featuring: Ohio
Source: Leaflet / Wikimedia Commons
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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Source: Bureau of Land Management Oregon and Washington / Flickr
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
See all stories featuring: Oregon
Source: George Pankewytch / Flickr
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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Source: danlogan / iStock
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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Source: National Weather Service
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
Source: Steversiewert / iStock
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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Source: wbritten / Getty Images
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
See all stories featuring: Tennessee
Source: Albert Mock / Flickr
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
See all stories featuring: Texas
Source: phdpsx / iStock
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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Source: John Jewell / Flickr
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
Source: Mrs. Gemstone / Flickr
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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Source: Sung Jun Oem / iStock
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
Source: Jrmichae / Wikimedia Commons
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
Source: Bobak Ha'Eri / Wikimedia Common
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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Source: Satsuuma / Wikimedia Commons
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.Â
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.Â
Records date back to 1872, when Kings County, or Brooklyn, got 27 inches, or more than 2 feet of snow, in just one day.Â
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.Â
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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