States With the Most Snowfall in U.S. 2025

Snow is one of nature's most dramatic and unpredictable events, changing landscapes and daily routines throughout the United States every winter. For some, snow equals snuggle nights by the fire, snowball fights, and the hope of a white Christmas. For others, it equals the drudgery of shoveling driveway after driveway, dangerous commutes, and school closures.

But ever wonder why some states get buried under feet of snow and others get almost a dusting? The reason has to do with an intriguing combination of geography, climate, and even local weather anomalies such as the "lake effect."

Snow doesn't occur evenly everywhere. According to the World Population Review, Northeast and Great Lakes states are likely to be in the lead, with cold air masses and heavy moisture content. Southern states and coastal states can go years without a flake landing. 

Even in the same state, snowfall can be completely unpredictable—mountain ranges, elevation changes, and proximity to large bodies of water can produce microclimates in which one town gets a blizzard and the next gets a chilly rain. This unpredictability makes snowfall so local events, affecting everything from ski culture to planning infrastructure.

Read along to get the latest data on average snowfall nationwide for 2025, find out which states are the snowiest states, and learn why averages and medians can report quite different tales of what to anticipate when the snow begins falling.

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Average Snowfall by State (2025)

Note: Some states such as Florida and Hawaii are omitted due to negligible snowfall.

Median vs. Average: Understanding Snowfall Data

When the snowfall is measured, the mean (average) is the sum of the snowfall broken down by the number of regions measured. The median is the value in the middle of all the snowfall values when they are listed from smallest to largest. 

Why? In states with sharp regional contrasts—such as California, Colorado, or Michigan—the average may be distorted by some snowy regions, but the median is a more accurate reflection of what the majority of residents actually see.

For instance, Northern California receives an average of 14.3 inches of snow but a median of only 0.7 inches, illustrating how extreme some mountain areas can be in driving up the statewide average. This is a pattern that occurs in many large or topographically complex states, where local extremes are caused by elevation, lakeshore proximity, and mountain ranges.

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States with Large Variance in Snowfall

A few states are renowned for the huge fluctuations in snowfall from one place to another:

• California: Sierra Nevada mountains receive in excess of 100 inches of snow, but most of the state receives almost nothing.
• Colorado: Plains in the east will receive 45–55 inches, but the Rockies will get more than 100 inches.
• Michigan: The Upper Peninsula is covered in snow, but other areas receive significantly less due to the lake effect.
• Maryland & Virginia: Coastal zones receive little snow, but mountain areas in the west receive several times as much.
• Arizona & New Mexico: High mountains receive heavy snow, but deserts receive little to none.

Snowfall in the United States is as diverse as its geography. While a few states prepare for regular, heavy snow, others experience minimal but occasional flurries. Knowing both the mean and the median snowfall gives a better sense of reality, particularly in highly variable states. Whether you are an avid winter sports fan, a risk-averse commuter, or just a weather enthusiast, knowing your state's snow history can prepare you for whatever winter occurs.

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