Biggest Average Annual Snowfalls

Several spots scattered across the United States can count on plenty of snow each winter. By far the snowiest region in the country is the Cascade Mountains of western Washington state. Weather stations on both Mount Baker and Mount Rainier measure much deeper snows than anywhere else in the US. The Rainer Paradise Ranger Station located near alpine at 5427 feet (1654 m) on the south flank of Mount Rainier sets the national record for having the greatest annual average snowfall with its 676.2 inches (1717.5 cm).

Average annual snowfall for places averaging at least 100 inches of snowfall a year:

Location	Inches
Rainer Paradise Ranger Station, Washington	676
Mt Baker Ski Area, Washington	647
Valdez, Alaska	326
Mt Washington, New Hampshire	261
Blue Canyon, California	240
Yakutat, Alaska	191
Marquette, Michigan	144
Syracuse, New York	118
Sault Ste Marie, Michigan	117
Talkeetna, Alaska	115
Caribou, Maine	112
Mount Shasta, California	105
Flagstaff, Arizona	101
Lander, Wyoming	100

Most Snow in One Year

The Mount Baker downhill ski area achieved the world's record for receiving the most snow in one year when 1140 inches, or 95 feet, (2896 cm) landed between July 1, 1998 and June 30, 1999. Altogether, weather stations in ten states have recorded over 30 feet of snow falling in the 12-month period between August 1 and July 31.

The largest annual snowfalls recorded for the ten snowiest states.

Location	Inches	Year
Thompson Pass, Alaska	974	1952-53
Crater Lake National Park, Oregon	822	1948-49
Alta, Utah	811	1983-84
Echo Summit, California	747	1982-83
Stevens Pass, Washington	621	1964-65
Wolf Creek Pass, Colorado	520	1947-48
Snake River, Wyoming	382	1975-76
Roland West Portal, Idaho	380	1945-46
Hooker 12 NNW, New York	380	1978-79
Summit, Montana	369	1942-43

Most Snow in One Day

The most snow to fall in any 24 hour period is 75.8 inches (193 cm), well over six feet, that landed at Silver Lake, Colorado. The mountain lake sits at 10,220 feet elevation about 40 miles northwest of Denver. Its record-setting snowstorm began at 2:30 pm on the afternoon of April 14, 1921.

Even after 24 hours, the snowflakes still kept coming and by 6 pm on April 15, 1921 a record 87 inches had landed. The blizzard continued non-stop for 32.5 hours, ultimately leaving 95 inches of fresh snow on the ground. This set yet another record for the deepest accumulation from one continuous snowfall.

The biggest snowfall for a single calendar day belongs to another Colorado location, Georgetown where 63 inches landed on December 4, 1913. This small town with plenty of history is nestled high in the mountains at 8,550 feet elevation. Another dozen states have also measured three or more feet of snow arriving in one day.

Places that have set state records for the heaviest one-day snowfall amounting to three feet or more.

State	Inches	Date
Georgetown, Colorado	63	Dec 4 1913
Thompson Pass, Alaska	62	Dec 29 1955
Giant Forest, California	60	Jan 19 1933
Millegan, Montana	48	Dec 27 2003
Gunn's Ranch, Washington	48	Jan 21 1935
Deadwood, South Dakota	47	Mar 14 1973
Watertown, New York	45	Nov 15 1900
Cannon Mountain, New Hampshire	41	Dec 4 1963
Heber Ranger Station, Arizona	38	Dec 14 1967
Morgantown, Pennsylvania	38	Mar 20 1958
Chemult, Oregon	37	Feb 6 1949
Wolf Ridge, Minnesota	36	Jan 7 1994
Abbott, New Mexico	36	Nov 24 1940

Where It Can Snow Any Time

Snowstorms can arrive any day of the year at some places, even during summer. Rainier Paradise Ranger Station is particularly prone to getting fresh snow during June, July and August. The snowiest summer recorded there was 1973 when 16.6 inches of snow fell over the three months.

But there's no telling what will happen. In some years, including 2006, no new snow has arrived at the Rainier Station during summer.

Average total snowfall from June to August for some of the snowiest places during summer:

Location	Inches
Rainer Paradise Ranger Station, Washington	5.6
Barter Island, Alaska	3.7
Barrow, Alaska	1.8
Mt. Washington, New Hampshire	1.4
Lander, Wyoming	1.2
Great Falls, Montana	0.4
Helena, Montana	0.2