Biggest March Snowstorms in US History
In the United States, the first of March marks the unofficial start of spring. During the month of March, daylight savings begins, the sun climbs higher in the sky, and temperatures rise markedly. Over the course of the 20th century, the average March temperature across the Lower 48 was 41.5°F, up from just 33.8°F in February. But even though the U.S. is now several days into the meteorological spring season, historical weather patterns show that winter weather – including snow – remains a possibility for millions of Americans in the coming days and weeks.
Data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration suggests that January and February are the two snowiest months in the United States. There are over 3,000 counties in the continental U.S. that have reported at least 1 inch of snowfall in a 24 hour period since record keeping began – and over half of these counties had their greatest single-day snowfall volume in either January or February.
There are also 566 counties, however, where record-breaking snowfall was reported in the month of March – 100 more than the number of places where snowfall records were broken in December, the unofficial start of winter.
Massive snowstorms in the month of March are often attributable to a confluence of factors linked to the seasonal shift. This time of year, as atmospheric temperatures rise, the jet stream can cause warmer air to collide with cooler air out of Canada and the northern United States, creating low-pressure systems that can fuel extreme weather events – including snowstorms. This phenomenon helps explain why 11 states reported their greatest single-day snowfall volume in March.
Using data from NOAA’s State Climate Extremes Committee program, Climate Crisis 247 identified the states where the biggest snowstorms in history happened during the month of March. States are ranked by their record-breaking single-day snowfall volume. All data in this story is as reported by NOAA. Typical annual and monthly snowfall volume reflect 30-year averages, recorded between 1991 and 2020. In cases where normal monthly and annual snowfall volumes were unavailable from the weather station where record-breaking snowfall was reported, we used data from the nearest weather station.
The 11 states that reported record-high single-day snowfall in the month of March are disproportionately concentrated in the South. Among these places, record breaking snowfall in a 24-hour period ranges from 4 inches to more than 50 inches. In many of these states, including Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and Kentucky, the March snowstorm noted on this list brought far greater snowfall volume than the reporting weather station typically gets in an entire year.
11. Florida
- Greatest one-day snowfall volume in March: 4.0 inches (March 6, 1954)
- Location of record-breaking snowfall: Milton Exp. Station in Santa Rosa County
- Typical snowfall volume for entire month of March: 0.1 inches
- Typical snowfall volume in a year: 0.1 inches
10. Georgia
- Greatest one-day snowfall volume in March: 19.3 inches (March 3, 1942)
- Location of record-breaking snowfall: Cedartown 3NE weather station weather station in Polk County
- Typical snowfall volume for entire month of March: 0.1 inches
- Typical snowfall volume in a year: 0.7 inches
9. Alabama
- Greatest one-day snowfall volume in March: 20.0 inches (March 13, 1993)
- Location of record-breaking snowfall: Walnut Grove weather station in Etowah County
- Typical snowfall volume for entire month of March: 1.4 inches
- Typical snowfall volume in a year: 1.7 inches
8. Kentucky
- Greatest one-day snowfall volume in March: 26.0 inches (March 3, 1942)
- Location of record-breaking snowfall: Simers weather station in Pike County
- Typical snowfall volume for entire month of March: 0.4 inches
- Typical snowfall volume in a year: 7.7 inches
7. Kansas
- Greatest one-day snowfall volume in March: 30.0 inches (March 28, 2009)
- Location of record-breaking snowfall: Pratt weather station in Pratt County
- Typical snowfall volume for entire month of March: 4.1 inches
- Typical snowfall volume in a year: 29.8 inches
6. Tennessee
- Greatest one-day snowfall volume in March: 30.0 inches (March 14, 1993)
- Location of record-breaking snowfall: Mount Leconte in Sevier County
- Typical snowfall volume for entire month of March: 16.9 inches
- Typical snowfall volume in a year: 76.8 inches
5. Maryland
- Greatest one-day snowfall volume in March: 31.0 inches (March 29, 1942)
- Location of record-breaking snowfall: Clear Spring 1ENE weather station in Washington County
- Typical snowfall volume for entire month of March: 6.0 inches
- Typical snowfall volume in a year: 30.8 inches
4. Virginia
- Greatest one-day snowfall volume in March: 33.5 inches (March 3, 1994)
- Location of record-breaking snowfall: Luray 5E weather station in Page County
- Typical snowfall volume for entire month of March: 6.2 inches
- Typical snowfall volume in a year: 18.6 inches
3. North Carolina
- Greatest one-day snowfall volume in March: 36.0 inches (March 13, 1993)
- Location of record-breaking snowfall: Mt. Mitchell in Yancey County
- Typical snowfall volume for entire month of March: 18.5 inches
- Typical snowfall volume in a year: 81.1 inches
2. Wyoming
- Greatest one-day snowfall volume in March: 49.0 inches (March 21, 1924)
- Location of record-breaking snowfall: Hunter Station in Johnson County
- Typical snowfall volume for entire month of March: 5.5 inches
- Typical snowfall volume in a year: 35.7 inches
1. South Dakota
- Greatest one-day snowfall volume in March: 52.0 inches (March 14, 1973)
- Location of record-breaking snowfall: Lead weather station in Lawrence County
- Typical snowfall volume for entire month of March: 27.6 inches
- Typical snowfall volume in a year: 183.9 inches
