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Snowfall Records by County – 2026 Study

Byline profile imageWritten by Jaclyn DeJohn, CFP®
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This week, a massive winter storm swept across much of the United States, blanketing regions from Texas to the Northeast with heavy snow, sleet, freezing rain, and ice, often exceeding 12 inches of precipitation. High snowfall can cause a variety of productivity disruptions, from the closing of schools and workplaces to costly interventions to clear infrastructure – especially in places unaccustomed to snowfall. Slippery roads and visual impairment or otherwise unsafe conditions can also cause accidents, which in some unfortunate cases can lead to injury or even death.

With this in mind, SmartAsset ranked U.S. counties based on the historical highest recorded snowfall in one day.

Key Findings

  • U.S. snowfall record is 70 inches in Pierce County, WA. On November 26, 1955, Pierce County recorded 70 inches of snow, the most ever recorded nationwide. The second place record belongs to El Dorado County, CA, where 67 inches of snow was recorded on January 5, 1982. Alpine County, CA had the third highest historical one-day snowfall at 65 inches on March 31, 1982.
  • In 2025, 73 counties set a new snowfall record. The highest new records set last winter were in Kansas: Jefferson County (16.4 inches), Geary County (16 inches), and Washington County (15 inches) on January 6th. Southern states that don’t generally get snow also set a handful of records last year, including Escambia County, FL (10 inches) and Santa Rosa County, FL (9 inches), as well as 21 counties in Georgia.
  • The largest recorded multi-day snowfall in the U.S. was 147 inches. Chugach, Alaska holds the record for the highest two-day and three-day snowfalls, which occurred in late December 1955. On day one, 62 inches accumulated. By day two, 120.6 inches had fallen, and by day three the record reached 147 inches.
  • The highest snowfall record in New York City is 27.3 inches. On January 23, 2016, over two feet of snow in Manhattan. The record for Queens was also set on this day at 30.3 inches. Staten Island (Richmond County) followed a day later with 19.5 inches recorded on January 24, 2016. In the Bronx, the one-day record sits at 19 inches on February 12, 2006. Brooklyn’s (Kings County) record was set very early: 27 inches on December 27, 1872. 

Top 50 Counties With the Highest Snowfall Records

Counties are ranked based on the one-day record for snowfall over 125 years. Snowfall is measured in inches.

  1. Pierce County, Washington
  • Snowfall record over 1 day: 70
  • Record date, 1-day: 11/26/1955
  • Snowfall record over 2 days: 70
  • Record date, 2-day: 11/26/1955
  • Snowfall record over 3 days: 88
  • Record date, 3-day: 1/25/1971
  1. El Dorado County, California
  • Snowfall record over 1 day: 67
  • Record date, 1-day: 1/5/1982
  • Snowfall record over 2 days: 80
  • Record date, 2-day: 1/5/1982
  • Snowfall record over 3 days: 104
  • Record date, 3-day: 4/1/1982
  1. Alpine County, California
  • Snowfall record over 1 day: 65
  • Record date, 1-day: 3/31/1982
  • Snowfall record over 2 days: 90
  • Record date, 2-day: 3/31/1982
  • Snowfall record over 3 days: 110
  • Record date, 3-day: 1/20/1921
  1. Siskiyou County, California
  • Snowfall record over 1 day: 63
  • Record date, 1-day: 1/2/1901
  • Snowfall record over 2 days: 103
  • Record date, 2-day: 2/17/1959
  • Snowfall record over 3 days: 135
  • Record date, 3-day: 2/18/1959
  1. Clear Creek County, Colorado
  • Snowfall record over 1 day: 63
  • Record date, 1-day: 12/4/1913
  • Snowfall record over 2 days: 83
  • Record date, 2-day: 3/19/2003
  • Snowfall record over 3 days: 90
  • Record date, 3-day: 3/19/2003
  1. Chugach, Alaska
  • Snowfall record over 1 day: 62
  • Record date, 1-day: 12/29/1955
  • Snowfall record over 2 days: 120.6
  • Record date, 2-day: 12/30/1955
  • Snowfall record over 3 days: 147
  • Record date, 3-day: 12/30/1955
  1. Tulare County, California
  • Snowfall record over 1 day: 60
  • Record date, 1-day: 1/19/1933
  • Snowfall record over 2 days: 67
  • Record date, 2-day: 1/20/1933
  • Snowfall record over 3 days: 86.9
  • Record date, 3-day: 2/14/1926
  1. Benewah County, Idaho
  • Snowfall record over 1 day: 60
  • Record date, 1-day: 1/22/1982
  • Snowfall record over 2 days: 90
  • Record date, 2-day: 1/22/1982
  • Snowfall record over 3 days: 90
  • Record date, 3-day: 1/22/1982
  1. Owyhee County, Idaho
  • Snowfall record over 1 day: 60
  • Record date, 1-day: 5/2/1983
  • Snowfall record over 2 days: 60
  • Record date, 2-day: 5/2/1983
  • Snowfall record over 3 days: 60
  • Record date, 3-day: 5/2/1983
  1. Malheur County, Oregon
  • Snowfall record over 1 day: 60
  • Record date, 1-day: 4/8/2009
  • Snowfall record over 2 days: 64
  • Record date, 2-day: 4/9/2009
  • Snowfall record over 3 days: 85
  • Record date, 3-day: 4/10/2009
  1. Mariposa County, California
  • Snowfall record over 1 day: 60
  • Record date, 1-day: 3/9/2023
  • Snowfall record over 2 days: 60
  • Record date, 2-day: 3/9/2023
  • Snowfall record over 3 days: 60
  • Record date, 3-day: 3/9/2023
  1. Copper River Census Area, Alaska
  • Snowfall record over 1 day: 57
  • Record date, 1-day: 3/15/1918
  • Snowfall record over 2 days: 62
  • Record date, 2-day: 1/15/2001
  • Snowfall record over 3 days: 92
  • Record date, 3-day: 1/15/2001
  1. Mineral County, Colorado
  • Snowfall record over 1 day: 55
  • Record date, 1-day: 1/14/1997
  • Snowfall record over 2 days: 90
  • Record date, 2-day: 1/28/1956
  • Snowfall record over 3 days: 104
  • Record date, 3-day: 1/28/1956
  1. Larimer County, Colorado
  • Snowfall record over 1 day: 55
  • Record date, 1-day: 4/29/2010
  • Snowfall record over 2 days: 66
  • Record date, 2-day: 3/19/2003
  • Snowfall record over 3 days: 70
  • Record date, 3-day: 3/20/2003
  1. El Paso County, Colorado
  • Snowfall record over 1 day: 54
  • Record date, 1-day: 4/2/1957
  • Snowfall record over 2 days: 64
  • Record date, 2-day: 5/19/1955
  • Snowfall record over 3 days: 66
  • Record date, 3-day: 3/19/2003
  1. Okanogan County, Washington
  • Snowfall record over 1 day: 52
  • Record date, 1-day: 1/21/1935
  • Snowfall record over 2 days: 53
  • Record date, 2-day: 1/22/1935
  • Snowfall record over 3 days: 73
  • Record date, 3-day: 12/19/1933
  1. Lawrence County, South Dakota
  • Snowfall record over 1 day: 52
  • Record date, 1-day: 3/14/1973
  • Snowfall record over 2 days: 59.4
  • Record date, 2-day: 4/19/2006
  • Snowfall record over 3 days: 74.1
  • Record date, 3-day: 2/27/1998
  1. Oneida County, New York
  • Snowfall record over 1 day: 50
  • Record date, 1-day: 2/1/1966
  • Snowfall record over 2 days: 65
  • Record date, 2-day: 2/1/1966
  • Snowfall record over 3 days: 68.2
  • Record date, 3-day: 2/1/1966
  1. Coos County, New Hampshire
  • Snowfall record over 1 day: 49.3
  • Record date, 1-day: 2/25/1969
  • Snowfall record over 2 days: 77.1
  • Record date, 2-day: 2/26/1969
  • Snowfall record over 3 days: 91.1
  • Record date, 3-day: 2/27/1969
  1. Johnson County, Wyoming
  • Snowfall record over 1 day: 49
  • Record date, 1-day: 3/21/1924
  • Snowfall record over 2 days: 59
  • Record date, 2-day: 3/21/1924
  • Snowfall record over 3 days: 61
  • Record date, 3-day: 3/22/1924
  1. Placer County, California
  • Snowfall record over 1 day: 49
  • Record date, 1-day: 4/3/1958
  • Snowfall record over 2 days: 81
  • Record date, 2-day: 1/11/2017
  • Snowfall record over 3 days: 117
  • Record date, 3-day: 1/13/1911
  1. Mesa County, Colorado
  • Snowfall record over 1 day: 49
  • Record date, 1-day: 12/29/2021
  • Snowfall record over 2 days: 49
  • Record date, 2-day: 12/29/2021
  • Snowfall record over 3 days: 49
  • Record date, 3-day: 12/29/2021
  1. Nevada County, California
  • Snowfall record over 1 day: 48.1
  • Record date, 1-day: 12/21/1996
  • Snowfall record over 2 days: 78
  • Record date, 2-day: 1/13/1911
  • Snowfall record over 3 days: 104
  • Record date, 3-day: 1/14/1911
  1. Boulder County, Colorado
  • Snowfall record over 1 day: 48
  • Record date, 1-day: 12/5/1913
  • Snowfall record over 2 days: 87
  • Record date, 2-day: 4/15/1921
  • Snowfall record over 3 days: 95
  • Record date, 3-day: 4/16/1921
  1. Grand County, Colorado
  • Snowfall record over 1 day: 48
  • Record date, 1-day: 4/15/1921
  • Snowfall record over 2 days: 54
  • Record date, 2-day: 3/19/2003
  • Snowfall record over 3 days: 64
  • Record date, 3-day: 3/20/2003
  1. Jackson County, South Dakota
  • Snowfall record over 1 day: 48
  • Record date, 1-day: 1/5/1949
  • Snowfall record over 2 days: 48
  • Record date, 2-day: 1/5/1949
  • Snowfall record over 3 days: 48
  • Record date, 3-day: 1/5/1949
  1. Plumas County, California
  • Snowfall record over 1 day: 48
  • Record date, 1-day: 1/29/1968
  • Snowfall record over 2 days: 64.8
  • Record date, 2-day: 1/30/1968
  • Snowfall record over 3 days: 71
  • Record date, 3-day: 1/13/1911
  1. Shasta County, California
  • Snowfall record over 1 day: 48
  • Record date, 1-day: 12/24/1979
  • Snowfall record over 2 days: 62
  • Record date, 2-day: 12/24/1979
  • Snowfall record over 3 days: 74
  • Record date, 3-day: 12/25/1979
  1. Chouteau County, Montana
  • Snowfall record over 1 day: 48
  • Record date, 1-day: 5/29/1982
  • Snowfall record over 2 days: 66
  • Record date, 2-day: 5/29/1982
  • Snowfall record over 3 days: 66
  • Record date, 3-day: 5/29/1982
  1. Meagher County, Montana
  • Snowfall record over 1 day: 48
  • Record date, 1-day: 12/27/2003
  • Snowfall record over 2 days: 51
  • Record date, 2-day: 12/28/2003
  • Snowfall record over 3 days: 55
  • Record date, 3-day: 12/29/2003
  1. Jefferson County, Colorado
  • Snowfall record over 1 day: 48
  • Record date, 1-day: 12/21/2006
  • Snowfall record over 2 days: 61
  • Record date, 2-day: 3/19/2003
  • Snowfall record over 3 days: 75
  • Record date, 3-day: 3/20/2003
  1. Sheridan County, Wyoming
  • Snowfall record over 1 day: 48
  • Record date, 1-day: 4/4/2009
  • Snowfall record over 2 days: 60
  • Record date, 2-day: 3/30/2007
  • Snowfall record over 3 days: 61
  • Record date, 3-day: 3/30/2007
  1. Lewis County, New York
  • Snowfall record over 1 day: 48
  • Record date, 1-day: 12/2/2024
  • Snowfall record over 2 days: 69.3
  • Record date, 2-day: 1/6/1988
  • Snowfall record over 3 days: 84.2
  • Record date, 3-day: 1/1/2002
  1. Erie County, New York
  • Snowfall record over 1 day: 47.5
  • Record date, 1-day: 11/20/2014
  • Snowfall record over 2 days: 64
  • Record date, 2-day: 11/19/2022
  • Snowfall record over 3 days: 86.5
  • Record date, 3-day: 11/20/2014
  1. Hood River County, Oregon
  • Snowfall record over 1 day: 47
  • Record date, 1-day: 1/9/1980
  • Snowfall record over 2 days: 65
  • Record date, 2-day: 1/10/1980
  • Snowfall record over 3 days: 71.5
  • Record date, 3-day: 1/10/1980
  1. Costilla County, Colorado
  • Snowfall record over 1 day: 46
  • Record date, 1-day: 2/12/1940
  • Snowfall record over 2 days: 50
  • Record date, 2-day: 1/27/1948
  • Snowfall record over 3 days: 52
  • Record date, 3-day: 4/20/1942
  1. Douglas County, Nevada
  • Snowfall record over 1 day: 46
  • Record date, 1-day: 3/3/2024
  • Snowfall record over 2 days: 68
  • Record date, 2-day: 4/4/1958
  • Snowfall record over 3 days: 81
  • Record date, 3-day: 4/4/1958
  1. Idaho County, Idaho
  • Snowfall record over 1 day: 45
  • Record date, 1-day: 11/27/1933
  • Snowfall record over 2 days: 45
  • Record date, 2-day: 11/27/1933
  • Snowfall record over 3 days: 48.9
  • Record date, 3-day: 2/8/2020
  1. King County, Washington
  • Snowfall record over 1 day: 45
  • Record date, 1-day: 1/2/1965
  • Snowfall record over 2 days: 71
  • Record date, 2-day: 3/27/1936
  • Snowfall record over 3 days: 85.5
  • Record date, 3-day: 12/28/1937
  1. Butte County, California
  • Snowfall record over 1 day: 45
  • Record date, 1-day: 1/29/1968
  • Snowfall record over 2 days: 52
  • Record date, 2-day: 1/29/1968
  • Snowfall record over 3 days: 63
  • Record date, 3-day: 12/23/1921
  1. Jefferson County, New York
  • Snowfall record over 1 day: 45
  • Record date, 1-day: 12/10/1995
  • Snowfall record over 2 days: 56
  • Record date, 2-day: 1899-12-28
  • Snowfall record over 3 days: 62
  • Record date, 3-day: 1899-12-28
  1. Big Horn County, Montana
  • Snowfall record over 1 day: 45
  • Record date, 1-day: 10/26/2023
  • Snowfall record over 2 days: 45
  • Record date, 2-day: 10/26/2023
  • Snowfall record over 3 days: 52
  • Record date, 3-day: 4/27/1984
  1. Stillwater County, Montana
  • Snowfall record over 1 day: 44
  • Record date, 1-day: 4/20/1912
  • Snowfall record over 2 days: 61
  • Record date, 2-day: 4/23/1958
  • Snowfall record over 3 days: 72
  • Record date, 3-day: 4/24/1958
  1. Chelan County, Washington
  • Snowfall record over 1 day: 44
  • Record date, 1-day: 1/20/1943
  • Snowfall record over 2 days: 62.5
  • Record date, 2-day: 1/20/1943
  • Snowfall record over 3 days: 77.1
  • Record date, 3-day: 12/28/1937
  1. Anchorage, Alaska
  • Snowfall record over 1 day: 44
  • Record date, 1-day: 12/23/1959
  • Snowfall record over 2 days: 52
  • Record date, 2-day: 2/1/2000
  • Snowfall record over 3 days: 60
  • Record date, 3-day: 2/2/2000
  1. Mono County, California
  • Snowfall record over 1 day: 44
  • Record date, 1-day: 12/6/1966
  • Snowfall record over 2 days: 76
  • Record date, 2-day: 12/6/1966
  • Snowfall record over 3 days: 90
  • Record date, 3-day: 12/20/2010
  1. Flathead County, Montana
  • Snowfall record over 1 day: 44
  • Record date, 1-day: 1/20/1972
  • Snowfall record over 2 days: 54
  • Record date, 2-day: 1/20/1972
  • Snowfall record over 3 days: 63
  • Record date, 3-day: 1/20/1972
  1. Converse County, Wyoming
  • Snowfall record over 1 day: 44
  • Record date, 1-day: 11/21/1979
  • Snowfall record over 2 days: 54
  • Record date, 2-day: 11/21/1979
  • Snowfall record over 3 days: 58
  • Record date, 3-day: 4/20/1973
  1. Sierra County, California
  • Snowfall record over 1 day: 44
  • Record date, 1-day: 3/23/1995
  • Snowfall record over 2 days: 51
  • Record date, 2-day: 1/2/1982
  • Snowfall record over 3 days: 68
  • Record date, 3-day: 1/14/1911
  1. Southeast Fairbanks, Alaska
  • Snowfall record over 1 day: 43
  • Record date, 1-day: 2/8/1956
  • Snowfall record over 2 days: 78
  • Record date, 2-day: 1/5/1943
  • Snowfall record over 3 days: 78.4
  • Record date, 3-day: 1/6/1943

Data and Methodology

3,144 U.S. counties with available data are ranked based on the historical one-day snow accumulation between December 27, 1872 and June 30, 2025. Data comes from

National Centers for Environmental Information from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. 

Questions about this study? Contact us at press@smartasset.com

Photo credit: ©iStock.com/Marc Bruxelle