During the week starting Jan. 26, 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, Washington. On Nov. 26, 1955, Pierce County recorded 70 inches of snow, the most ever recorded nationwide. The second-place record belongs to El Dorado County, California, where 67 inches of snow was recorded on Jan. 5, 1982. Alpine County, California, 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 Jan. 6. Southern states that don’t generally get snow also set a handful of records last year, including Escambia County, Florida (10 inches) and Santa Rosa County, Florida (9 inches), as well as 21 counties in Georgia.
The largest recorded multiday 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 Jan. 23, 2016, over 2 feet of snow fell 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 Jan. 24, 2016. In the Bronx, the one-day record sits at 19 inches on Feb. 12, 2006. Brooklyn’s (Kings County) record was set very early: 27 inches on Dec. 27, 1872.
SmartAsset
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.
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 Dec. 27, 1872 and June 30, 2025. Data comes from theNational Centers for Environmental Information from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
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