The 10 Largest may snow storms in the 21st Century

By Sam Stebbins  •  May 13, 2026
a car driving on a snowy road near a forest
Photo by Ottr Dan on Unsplash

May is the last full month of both the spring season in the United States – a period when the sun’s angle rises in the sky, causing an increase in both daylight hours and temperature. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the average temperature in the month of May was about 60°F throughout the 20th century, nearly 10°F warmer than the comparable average for the entire meteorological spring. Still, spring is a season of transition, and in some parts of the country, severe winter weather can still materialize during the month of May. 

The bulk of snowfall volume in the United States is concentrated in the winter months, between December and February each year. As the meteorological spring progresses from March 1st, the chances of snow tend to decline – and while exceedingly unlikely, snowfall in May is by no means impossible. Already in May 2026, weather stations across multiple states – including Arizona, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, and Texas – have reported at least one inch of snowfall in a single day. 

In higher elevation areas across the Rocky Mountains, the Midwest, and New England, far heavier May snowfall has been reported in recent decades. Several weather stations in the continental U.S. have even reported single-day snowfall totals exceeding two feet between May 1 and May 31. 

Using local weather station data compiled by NOAA’s Northeast Regional Climate Center, Climate Crisis 247 identified the biggest May snow storms of the 21st century. We reviewed thousands of daily snowfall records in the month of May since the year 2000, and ranked the reporting weather station on total, single-day snow volume. Only the highest ranking weather stations in each county were considered. All supplemental data is also from NOAA. 

Total, single-day May snowfall volumes reported by the weather stations on this list range from 22.8 to nearly 40 inches, often exceeding the average local snowfall total for the entire month by a foot or more. These weather stations span six states – Colorado, Iowa, Michigan, Montana, New Hampshire, and South Dakota – and all are located in relatively high elevation areas of at least 1,700 feet. 

a group of people riding skis on top of a snow covered slope
Photo by Rafael Rodrigues on Unsplash

10. 22.8 inches of snow

  • Location: Coos County, New Hampshire
  • Date: May 14, 2017
  • Reporting weather station: Mount Washington Weather Station (6,272 ft. elevation)
  • Average local May snowfall total: Approx. 12.9 inches

9. 23.8 inches of snow

  • Location: Clear Creek County, Colorado
  • Date: May 18, 2017
  • Reporting weather station: Evergreen 5.0 NW Weather Station (7,002 ft. elevation)
  • Average local May snowfall total: Approx. 2.7 inches

8. 24.0 inches of snow

  • Location: Huerfano County, Colorado
  • Date: May 3, 2005
  • Reporting weather station: La Veta 7.8 W Weather Station (8,009 ft. elevation)
  • Average local May snowfall total: Approx. N/A

7. 24.0 inches of snow

  • Location: Madison County, Montana
  • Date: May 6, 2010
  • Reporting weather station: Norris Madison Power House Weather Station (4,745 ft. elevation)
  • Average local May snowfall total: Approx. 1.6 inches

6. 26.0 inches of snow

  • Location: Harding County, South Dakota
  • Date: May 2, 2008
  • Reporting weather station: Harding 3 SE Weather Station (3,450 ft. elevation)
  • Average local May snowfall total: Approx. 3.5 inches

5. 27.0 inches of snow

  • Location: Baraga County, Michigan
  • Date: May 2, 2023
  • Reporting weather station: Herman Weather Station (1,717 ft. elevation)
  • Average local May snowfall total: Approx. 2.2 inches

4. 27.8 inches of snow

  • Location: Boulder County, Colorado
  • Date: May 19, 2017
  • Reporting weather station: Ward 4.6 NE Weather Station (8,560 ft. elevation)
  • Average local May snowfall total: Approx. 17.9 inches

3. 32.2 inches of snow

  • Location: Larimer County, Colorado
  • Date: May 19, 2017
  • Reporting weather station: Buckhorn Mountain 1E Weather Station (7,402 ft. elevation)
  • Average local May snowfall total: Approx. 14 inches

2. 36.0 inches of snow

  • Location: Stillwater County, Montana
  • Date: May 18, 2017
  • Reporting weather station: Mystic Lake Weather Station (6,544 ft. elevation)
  • Average local May snowfall total: Approx. 14.6 inches

1. 39.2 inches of snow

  • Location: Lawrence County, South Dakota
  • Date: May 2, 2008
  • Reporting weather station: Lead Weather Station (5,112 ft. elevation)
  • Average local May snowfall total: Approx. 6.7 inches


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