The Snowiest Big Cities in the United States UNOFFICIAL
All of the Snowiest Cities in the US Snow Stats Were Updated 11/30/2024 at 10:00 PM.
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Below are most of the snowiest Big (pop – 100,000+) US cities and how much snow they have so far for the 2024 – 2025 snow season. We will try and update the snow stats as often as possible. There could be a few cities in the United States that we are missing. Feel free to contact us and we will try to locate their snowfall totals. For the time being, I keep an eye on about 90 cities throughout the snow season and try to update them as much as possible. Let’s face it, the snow season can be long. The GoldenSnowGlobe snow contest is just a way to have some fun and maybe speed up the Winter season a little.
The first number is the current place the city is on the snow mountain. The second number is where the city was on the last update. Just to give an idea of how the snowiest city is doing normally, within a week’s time. 
| Standings on 11/30 |
and Cities |
2010 City |
2024 – 2025 |
Average Snow |
| 1 | Anchorage, Alaska **** |
291,826 |
26.5 |
18.6 |
| 2 | Erie, Pennsylvania |
101,786 |
24.2 |
9.7 |
| 3 | Colorado Springs, Colorado ** |
416,427 |
22.8 |
7.1 |
| 4 | Denver, Colorado ** |
600,158 |
22.3 |
??? |
| 5 | Boulder, Colorado ** |
108,250 |
20.2 |
20.1 |
| 6 | Pueblo, Colorado ** |
106,595 |
13.1 |
6.2 |
| 7 | Grand Rapids, Michigan |
188,040 |
10.4 |
7.4 |
| 8 | Fargo, North Dakota * |
105,549 |
4.6 |
8.0 |
| 9 | Ann Arbor, Michigan |
113,934 |
4.4 |
4.2 |
| 10 | Billings, Montana ** |
104,170 |
3.9 |
11.3 |
| 11 | Milwaukee, Wisconsin * |
594,833 |
3.1 |
2.8 |
| 12 | Chicago, Illinois * |
2,695,598 |
2.9 |
2.0 |
| 13 | South Bend, Indiana |
101.168 |
2.9 |
5.3 |
| 14 | Spokane, Washington *** |
208,916 |
2.6 |
6.8 |
| 15 | Madison, Wisconsin * |
233,209 |
2.6 |
3.6 |
| 16 | Cincinnati, Ohio |
296,943 |
2.4 |
1.0 |
| 17 | Akron, Ohio |
199,110 |
2.4 |
3.6 |
| 18 | Green Bay, Wisconsin * |
104,057 |
2.2 |
3.4 |
| 19 | Dayton, Ohio |
141,527 |
2.1 |
1.0 |
| 20 | Lansing, Michigan |
114,297 |
1.9 |
4.1 |
| 21 | Detroit, Michigan |
713,777 |
1.8 |
1.9 |
| 22 | Fort Collins, Colorado ** |
143,986 |
1.6 |
14.7 |
| 23 | Flint, Michigan |
102,434 |
1.5 |
3.6 |
| 24 | Minneapolis, Minnesota * |
382,578 |
1.1 |
7.6 |
| 25 | Cleveland, Ohio |
396,815 |
1.1 |
4.6 |
| 26 | Salt Lake City, Utah ** |
186,440 |
1.0 |
7.5 |
| 27 | Sioux Falls, South Dakota * |
153,888 |
1.0 |
7.6 |
| 28 | Pittsburgh, Pa |
305,704 |
0.8 |
2.8 |
| 29 | Fort Wayne, Indiana |
253,691 |
0.7 |
2.0 |
| 30 | Rockford, Illinois * |
152,871 |
0.6 |
2.5 |
| 31 | Reno, Nevada *** |
225,221 |
0.4 |
1.9 |
| 32 | Columbus, Ohio |
787,033 |
0.2 |
1.4 |
| 33 | Rochester, Minnesota * |
106,769 |
0.2 |
5.4 |
| 34 | Syracuse, New York |
145,170 |
0.2 |
10.0 |
| 35 | Peoria, Illinois * |
115,007 |
0.1 |
1.6 |
|
Lakewood, Colorado ** |
142,980 |
0.0 |
14.4 |
|
| Buffalo, New York |
261,310 |
Tr |
8.7 |
|
| Rochester, New York |
210,565 |
0.0 |
8.2 |
|
| Worcester, Mass |
181,045 |
Tr |
3.0 |
|
| Manchester, New Hampshire |
109,565 |
Tr |
??? |
|
| Boise, Idaho ** |
205,671 |
Tr |
2.0 |
|
| Des Moines, Iowa * |
203,433 |
Tr |
3.2 |
What do the asterisks mean, there is no explanation of what they mean
Sorry about that, Tony. They are there just to help me with the time zone differences. But since the recent time change some are probably off. EX: EST, PST, etc…
We’ve had some snow here already in Billings, Montana for the ’23-’24 season. Will you be updating the website soon?
If St. Paul isn’t going to have its own entry, shouldn’t they at least share an entry with Minneapolis? Are there other instances of multiple 100k+ cities sharing the same nws reporting location?
I doubt that the “normal to date” for Pittsburgh is really 1.8 inches.
Hi Mark, you are right about the normal snow for Pitt on the 15th. It’s not 1.8 inches it is about 16.6 inches. Every now and then I change the 2nd column to last season’s snow totals to date which were pretty low last season.
I don’t believe Erie pa has a population over 100,000 anymore and should probably be removed from the golden snow globe top 25 list
It says 2010 population. Anything more recent than that is just an estimate, not an official population count. Sadly, Erie probably will fall below 100,000 and be off this list once the 2020 count is finished.
Erie has not had a population of 100k since at least 2017. It’s currently at 95k
Why isn’t Boulder Colorado on the list, the current population (2020) is: 106,567.
Boulder Colorado just had an early snowfall of 5.7
inches on September 8th-9th! In(2019-2020) season
Boulder ended up with over 150 inches which was a new record!
I believe they are going by 2010 census counts. Anything more recent than 2010 is still considered just an estimate.
Well, Boulder is on the list now for the first time. (and it’s currently ranked #4!)
Rochester, Minnesota had 2.1 inches yesterday, it’s officially the Snowiest Winter in Rochester history with 86.8 inches of Snow, beating out the old record of 85.1 in 1996-97
I swear the NOW data for Detroit is wrong. I live about 12 miles due north of the airport (where the snow fall is measured) and my snowfall is consistently much higher than what is reported there. Similarly, if you look at Ann Arbor snow data, it is consistently much higher than Detroit (and more in line with what I get at my house), but where they take the measurements can’t be more than 20 miles from each other. Is there any evidence that perhaps snowfall at a major airport is less than the surrounding areas because maybe the jets keep the air a little warmer around there and therefore not as much snow reaches the ground?
Keep in Mind Tim that 20 miles is a pretty big span as far as snow falling, especially if it is Lake Effect snow. Just a quarter of a mile is a big gap as far as which city gets hit an which one gets missed.
Fair point, Patrick, but for at least six years this pattern has existed that DTW airport has significantly less snowfall than pretty much all of the surrounding measurements in Michigan. And, east side of Michigan is not subject to lake effect snow like west side of Michigan is. I have no evidence of anything, but having lived in the area for 8 years, observing my snow, and studying the other weather stations in the area, there is something wrong with DTW’s reports. Or, there is something abnormal keeping it low (i.e., jet exhaust melting snow…crazy theory, but I got nothing else).
Measuremennt at our (Rochester,NY International Airport) is south or the city and measures the least amount of snowfall. Example total snowfall last season at the airport was 127″ total snowfall in Charlotte a burroughs of the city located on the shore of Lake Ontario as measured at the Coast Guard Station was 239″. Mid city was over 180″.
Airports are located in the area the least amount of snowman fall. There are some exception,Syraucuse being one.
I got stuck driving in last weeks snowstorm in Boston, there was definitely more than .1 inches. Lowell Ma also got about 6 inches
Yeah, Boston got a few inches at least in just the first storm and Lowell got much more.
Why the asterisk next to Worcester, Ma.?
Beats me Pat
I probably put it there during an update to recheck to see if snow stats were reporting for them yet. I really don’t remember but if you see any more, it’s normally just to remind me to do something 
Four years later, there are now so many asterisks all over the place.
Syracuse still rules. Take away Christmas week which was an anomoly and we had almost double. Plus, Erie population is under 100k. I know … sour grapes. Go ‘cuse!
Here comes 200″ Erie
Soooooooooooooo This site has Syracuse at 151.1 but Goldensnowball site has Syracuse at 138.1………I also believe that the Syracuse newspaper has them at 138.1….My friends and I bet on this every year so needless to say we want the right number. ????????? Thanks
Hi Bob, I have a family crisis going on right now but I will be updating the snow sites soon. Sorry about that…
I just wanted to say Thanks to everyone that has been commenting here and keeping it civil
I haven’t been able to comment or reply as much as I used to in the past. That said, we do have a Facebook Page that you may not know of. It’s a good group of people from all over the country and a mix of both men and women. I know a few of you that post here are already members. Anyways, check it out at https://www.facebook.com/groups/861746940543642/
I would love to see Erie hit the 200 inch mark…Come on Erie…Rah, Rah, Rah.
But here in Syracuse I’m ready for spring.
Somehow the world seems so much more in balance when the “Gang of Four” (Buffalo, Erie, Rochester and Syracuse) are all together at the top of the pile.
Here comes the snow, do do do do, here comes the snow and I say”_____________________,”Finish it ! Bring it on Mother Nature, we are ready! NOT!
Erie, PA
FYI Today Erie broke the all time record for snow in an entire season…and it’s only February
What are the chances of Erie PA getting enough snow to break there all time record, last time I checked I think they need 11 more inches.
Yes i think that is totally broken i believe erie will hit the “coveted ” so to speak 200 mark
No doubt Erie will hit the all-time seasonal snow record
The 200-inch mark is a tough one to hit. Syracuse had 192.1 inches in the (1992 – 1993) snow season and Buffalo just missed it by 6 tenths of an inch with 199.4 inches in the (1976 – 1977) snow season. You would think that whoever measured the snow back then would have coughed or sneezed next to the snow just to add that extra 6 tenths, lol. OK, it’s Buffalo so I’m glad they didn’t beat Syracuse to it 
On another note. Syracuse has less snow as of today, 1/31 than they did the season that they hit their highest total. In other words, watch out Erie, we are coming for ya’s 
Wishful thinking most likely 
Snow is officially measured at airports which in general are located where the least amount of snow falls, Syracuse being the exception. I was stationed at Hancock Field in Mattydale and lived in Liverpool for two years. Believe me if snow was measured north of the city in Rochester as it was by the Coast Guard pre 50′s before moving to airport, Syracuse and Buffalo for that matter would not even be in the conversation. Over 200″ was the norm. Buffalo generally dries up once shallow Lake Erie freezes over in early January.
We should all be humbled, however, by the massive amount of snow those towns and small cities in the Tug Hill Plataue east of Lake Ontario recorded in the 300′ and ever 400′ range,Barnes Corners, Adams Basin and Oswego to mention a few.
You better hope Lake Erie doesn’t freeze over too early or Erie will be down and out early.
No doubt Erie will break the all time record. I’ll say congrats right now, lol
Lowell,Massachusetts has gotten 31 inches of snowfall this season, so far. ( According to Accuweather November 2017-Current Date)
Population: 110,558 (2016)
Population 2010 : 106,519
The National Weather Service hasn’t been doing regular updates for Lowell, MA this season Nick. I keep meaning to call them to find out what’s going on. The NWS is the only official snow stats, which is what I go by.
Today, January 6, 2018, I do not see any listing for Albany NY. Haven’t they received any snow this season?
Hi Brenda, Albany, NY is in the NY Golden Snowball contest and are currently in 4th place. This is the National Snow Contest which is just for bigger cities with a population of 100,000+ as of the 2010 census. Here is where the NY snow contest is http://goldensnowball.com/
Thanks, Patrick, for the info.
Prior to 2018, I looked only at the NY State statistics.
Now, I plan to only look at the “Some Snowiest Big Cities in the United States” as well. I see now why Binghamton and Albany “may” not be on the list.
Syracuse NY was my home for 76 years, before moving to Summerville SC (a suburb of Charleston) in 2016.
We just had an 8-inch snowfall (last was a few inches eight years ago).
Brenda
We used to live in Erie, and miss it a lot, but not the 7 months of winter, especially this year!