You’d think it’s Alaska. Most people do. It makes sense, right? It’s the land of the midnight sun, glaciers, and polar bears. If any place is going to be buried under a mountain of white fluff, it has to be the one touching the Arctic Circle.
But honestly? If you look at the statewide averages across the lower 48 and the big frozen north, the answer is a bit more complicated. It turns out that Vermont and New Hampshire are constantly duking it out for the top spot, often leaving Alaska in the rearview mirror when you calculate how much snow falls across the entire state’s footprint.
What is the snowiest state in the US? (The Answer)
When we talk about what is the snowiest state in the US, we have to decide if we’re talking about "which state has the snowiest single spot" or "which state gets the most snow on average across its entire area."
If we go by statewide averages—the kind of data NOAA and the National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) track—Vermont is frequently the heavy hitter. On average, Vermont gets about 89.25 inches of snow a year. That is a massive amount of shoveling.
Alaska usually lands around 72.8 inches on average. Why the "low" number? Because Alaska is gargantuan. While the coastal regions and the mountains get absolutely slammed, the vast interior is actually a cold desert. It’s too frozen to snow much.
The Top Contenders for 2026
- Vermont: 89.25 inches.
- Maine: 77.28 inches.
- New Hampshire: 71.44 inches.
- Alaska: 64.46 inches (though this fluctuates wildly based on the year).
- Colorado: 67.30 inches (mostly in the peaks).
It’s a New England sweep.
The Weird Case of Alaska
Alaska is sort of a cheat code in this conversation. If you look at a town like Valdez, Alaska, you’re looking at over 300 inches of snow a year. That’s enough to bury a two-story house. But then you look at the tundra, and it’s a different story.
The state is so big it messes up the curve. It’s like having a genius in a class of 100 people; the average goes up, but most of the students are still just average. Vermont is small. It’s mostly mountains and hills. When it snows in Vermont, it snows everywhere in Vermont.
Why New England Wins the Snow Game
You've probably heard of Nor'easters. These are the monsters. They suck up moisture from the Atlantic, hit the cold air coming down from Canada, and just dump.
Vermont has another trick up its sleeve: Lake Champlain. It’s not as big as the Great Lakes, but it still provides "lake effect" snow. When freezing air moves over that relatively warmer water, it picks up moisture and tosses it onto the Green Mountains.
Then you have the terrain. Vermont has the highest percentage of its land covered by mountains compared to many other Eastern states. Elevation is the ultimate snow multiplier. For every thousand feet you climb, the temperature drops, and the "rain" turns into "powder."
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The 2024-2025 Season vs. 2026
This current 2025-2026 season is a bit of a wildcard. We’re dealing with a weak La Niña. For those who aren't weather nerds, La Niña typically means the northern U.S. gets colder and wetter, while the south stays dry.
Early data from January 2026 shows that the Midwest and the Great Lakes are getting hammered. In fact, Syracuse, New York has already recorded over 80 inches of snow as of mid-January. If this keeps up, New York might actually challenge the New England averages this year.
The Snowiest Cities Might Surprise You
If you live in a place like Denver, you might feel cheated. "We have the Rockies!" you say. True. But Denver itself is in a "snow shadow." The mountains actually strip the moisture out of the clouds before they hit the city.
Look at Syracuse. It’s consistently the snowiest major city in the country. It’s basically the king of the "Golden Snow Globe" contest.
- Syracuse, NY: ~114-120 inches per year.
- Erie, PA: ~100 inches.
- Rochester, NY: ~99 inches.
- Buffalo, NY: ~95 inches.
Notice a pattern? They’re all on the Great Lakes. Lake-effect snow is a localized beast. It can be sunny in one town and three feet of snow in the next one over.
What Most People Get Wrong
The biggest misconception is that "colder equals snowier."
Actually, the opposite is often true. If it’s $-20^\circ F$ outside, the air is usually too dry to produce big flakes. You need that "sweet spot" near the freezing mark—around $28^\circ F$ to $32^\circ F$—where the air can still hold a ton of moisture. This is why the Pacific Northwest mountains (like Mt. Baker in Washington) hold world records for snowfall. They stay "warm" enough to be wet but cold enough to be white.
Washington state’s Mt. Baker once saw 1,140 inches of snow in a single season (1998-1999). That’s nearly 100 feet. You can't even wrap your head around that. But because the valleys in Washington stay rainy and green, the state's average is much lower.
Actionable Tips for Snow Chasers
If you're planning a trip to see the white stuff this year, don't just pick a state. Pick a microclimate.
- For Deep Powder: Head to the Wasatch Range in Utah or the Cottonwood Canyons. They get "The Greatest Snow on Earth" because it's bone-dry and fluffy.
- For Guaranteed White Christmas: Your best bets are Caribou, Maine or Marquette, Michigan. These places have a nearly 100% historical probability of snow on the ground in December.
- For the "Snow Globe" Aesthetic: Vermont’s towns like Stowe or Woodstock are hard to beat. Just be prepared for the "Grey Ghost" sky—it stays cloudy for a long time.
How to Stay Safe
If you're moving to or visiting the snowiest state in the US, get winter tires. Not "all-season" tires. Real winter tires with the mountain-snowflake symbol. They make a bigger difference than having 4WD. Also, keep a "ditch kit" in your trunk: a shovel, some sand or kitty litter for traction, and a warm blanket.
Honestly, living in a top-tier snow state is a lifestyle. You don't just "deal" with the snow; you embrace it. You buy the skis, you get a high-end snowblower, and you learn to love the silence that comes after a 20-inch dump.
Next Steps for Your Winter Planning:
- Check the 2026 La Niña updates: NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center updates their 3-month outlooks every third Thursday.
- Compare local totals: If you're looking for a home, check the "micro-averages" of a specific zip code rather than the state average.
- Invest in gear early: In high-snow states, the best shovels and blowers are usually sold out by the first blizzard in November.
Vermont might hold the crown for the average, but the "snowiest" place for you is wherever you're standing with a shovel in your hand.