States That Reported All-Time Record Snowfall in December

From New England to the Pacific Northwest, and from the upper Midwest to as far south as Texas, snow is  a reliable hallmark of the winter season. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, nearly 70% of Americans live in regions that receive over 5 inches of snow annually. But even though both the meteorological and astrological winter begins in December each year, for much of the country, the heaviest snowfall typically occurs in January or February. 

Data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shows that the 56 largest U.S. metro areas receive a cumulative average of about 309 inches of snow in the month of January and nearly 271 inches in February. Meanwhile, December snowfall has historically totalled less than 225 inches in these same places. But while the first month of winter typically lags behind the first two months of the year in snowfall volume, there are parts of the country where December has brought record-breaking snowfall. 

Using data from NOAA’s State Climate Extremes Committee, Climate Crisis 247 identified the states that have reported record-breaking snowfall in December. We listed every state where the greatest volume of snowfall in a single 24-hour period was recorded in the month of December. All supplemental data, including average historical statewide precipitation levels, are also from NOAA. States are listed in alphabetical order. 

In 11 of the 50 states, the greatest single-day volume of snowfall was reported in the month of December. These all-time highs range from 18 inches of snow to nearly 50 inches. In most of these places, historic snowfall was reported in the 20th century, but in three states on this list, snowfall records were broken within the last 25 years. 

Arizona

• Maximum snowfall in a 24-hour period in the state: 38 inches
• Date of record snowfall: December 14, 1967
• Weather station(s) where record snowfall was reported: Heber Ranger Station, Navajo County (approx. 6,590 ft. above sea level)
• Average December precipitation in the state, 1901-2000: 1.18 inches (1.2 inches less than avg. December precipitation in continental U.S.)

Idaho

• Maximum snowfall in a 24-hour period in the state: 31 inches
• Date of record snowfall: December 18, 1967
• Weather station(s) where record snowfall was reported: Anderson Dam, Elmore County (approx. 3,882 ft. above sea level)
• Average December precipitation in the state, 1901-2000: 2.90 inches (0.6 inches more than avg. December precipitation in continental U.S.)

Indiana

• Maximum snowfall in a 24-hour period in the state: 33 inches
• Date of record snowfall: December 23, 2004
• Weather station(s) where record snowfall was reported: Salem, Washington County (approx. 800 ft. above sea level)
• Average December precipitation in the state, 1901-2000: 2.85 inches (0.5 inches more than avg. December precipitation in continental U.S.)

Maine

• Maximum snowfall in a 24-hour period in the state: 40 inches
• Date of record snowfall: December 30, 1962
• Weather station(s) where record snowfall was reported: Orono, Penobscot County (approx. 115 ft. above sea level)
• Average December precipitation in the state, 1901-2000: 3.53 inches (1.2 inches more than avg. December precipitation in continental U.S.)

Michigan

• Maximum snowfall in a 24-hour period in the state: 32 inches
• Date of record snowfall: December 2, 1985
• Weather station(s) where record snowfall was reported: Herman, Baraga County (approx. 1,717 ft. above sea level)
• Average December precipitation in the state, 1901-2000: 2.01 inches (0.3 inches less than avg. December precipitation in continental U.S.)

Mississippi

• Maximum snowfall in a 24-hour period in the state: 18 inches
• Date of record snowfall: December 23, 1963
• Weather station(s) where record snowfall was reported: Mt. Pleasant, Marshall County; Mt. Tunica, Tunica County (approx. 385 and 206 ft. above sea level)
• Average December precipitation in the state, 1901-2000: 5.57 inches (3.2 inches more than avg. December precipitation in continental U.S.)

Montana

• Maximum snowfall in a 24-hour period in the state: 48 inches
• Date of record snowfall: December 27, 2003
• Weather station(s) where record snowfall was reported: Millegan 14SE, Meagher County (approx. 4,970 ft. above sea level)
• Average December precipitation in the state, 1901-2000: 1.29 inches (1.1 inches less than avg. December precipitation in continental U.S.)

Nebraska

• Maximum snowfall in a 24-hour period in the state: 27 inches
• Date of record snowfall: December 21, 2006
• Weather station(s) where record snowfall was reported: Dalton, Cheyenne County (approx. 4,278 ft. above sea level)
• Average December precipitation in the state, 1901-2000: 0.60 inches (1.7 inches less than avg. December precipitation in continental U.S.)

Nevada

• Maximum snowfall in a 24-hour period in the state: 36 inches
• Date of record snowfall: December 21, 1996
• Weather station(s) where record snowfall was reported: Dagget Pass, Douglas
• County (approx. 7,334 ft. above sea level)
• Average December precipitation in the state, 1901-2000: 1.02 inches (1.3 inches less than avg. December precipitation in continental U.S.)

New Jersey

• Maximum snowfall in a 24-hour period in the state: 29.7 inches
• Date of record snowfall: December 26-27, 1947
• Weather station(s) where record snowfall was reported: Long Branch, Monmouth County (approx. 30 ft. above sea level)
• Average December precipitation in the state, 1901-2000: 3.70 inches (1.4 inches more than avg. December precipitation in continental U.S.)

Texas

• Maximum snowfall in a 24-hour period in the state: 26 inches
• Date of record snowfall: December 20-21, 1929
• Weather station(s) where record snowfall was reported: Hillsboro, Hill County (approx. 550 ft. above sea level)
• Average December precipitation in the state, 1901-2000: 1.78 inches (0.6 inches less than avg. December precipitation in continental U.S.)

Utah

• Maximum snowfall in a 24-hour period in the state: 38 inches
• Date of record snowfall: December 2, 1982
• Weather station(s) where record snowfall was reported: Alta, Salt Lake County (approx. 8,710 ft. above sea level)
• Average December precipitation in the state, 1901-2000: 1.11 inches (1.2 inches less than avg. December precipitation in continental U.S.)

Wisconsin

• Maximum snowfall in a 24-hour period in the state: 26 inches
• Date of record snowfall: December 26-27, 1904
• Weather station(s) where record snowfall was reported: Neillsville, Clark County (approx. 1,080 ft. above sea level)
• Average December precipitation in the state, 1901-2000: 1.27 inches (1.1 inches less than avg. December precipitation in continental U.S.)