Snowiest US cities
The snowiest major US city in our dataset is Anchorage, AK, averaging about 77.9 inches of snow a year, ahead of Salt Lake City, UT (51.9 in) and Minneapolis, MN (51.2 in). The full ranking of the top 15 snowiest cities, with each city's snowiest single month, is below. Figures are NOAA 1991–2020 Climate Normals.
Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020. Data as of June 2026.
Top 15 snowiest cities
| # | City | Annual snowfall | Snowiest month |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Anchorage, AK | 77.9 in | Dec (18.2 in) |
| 2 | Salt Lake City, UT | 51.9 in | Jan (12.7 in) |
| 3 | Minneapolis, MN | 51.2 in | Dec (11.4 in) |
| 4 | Boston, MA | 49.2 in | Feb (14.4 in) |
| 5 | Denver, CO | 49 in | Mar (8.8 in) |
| 6 | Detroit, MI | 45 in | Jan (14 in) |
| 7 | Pittsburgh, PA | 44.1 in | Jan (13.3 in) |
| 8 | Chicago, IL | 38.4 in | Jan (11.3 in) |
| 9 | New York, NY | 29.8 in | Feb (10.1 in) |
| 10 | Columbus, OH | 28.2 in | Jan (9.5 in) |
| 11 | Indianapolis, IN | 25.5 in | Jan (8.8 in) |
| 12 | Cincinnati, OH | 23.3 in | Jan (7.7 in) |
| 13 | Philadelphia, PA | 23.1 in | Feb (8.4 in) |
| 14 | Kansas City, MO | 18.2 in | Feb (5.9 in) |
| 15 | St. Louis, MO | 16.6 in | Jan (5.7 in) |
Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020. Data as of June 2026.
When the snow falls
Snowfall in these cities concentrates between late November and March, peaking in mid-winter. The snowiest places combine cold winters with ample moisture — lake-effect, mountain or coastal storm tracks. Many warmer cities in our database get no measurable snow at all, so they are absent from this ranking. For warm winter alternatives, see the best winter getaways.
Frequently asked questions
What is the snowiest US city?
Among the major cities we track, Anchorage, AK is the snowiest, averaging about 77.9 inches of snow a year, ahead of Salt Lake City, UT (51.9 in) and Minneapolis, MN (51.2 in), per NOAA 1991–2020 Climate Normals.
Which big US cities get the most snow?
Northern and high-elevation cities such as Anchorage, Salt Lake City, Minneapolis, Boston top the list. Snow typically falls from late autumn through early spring; the table shows each city's snowiest single month.
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Last updated: 2026-06-18