Worst Fall Snowstorms to Hit America’s Largest Cities

During the winter months, snowfall is a regular occurrence in much of the United States.  According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, there have been 24 winter weather storms that resulted in at least $1 billion in damage in the U.S. since 1980—and all but three of them occurred during the meteorological winter, a three month period that begins with the month of December and ends with February. Indeed, in November 2025, snow covered only about 336,000 square miles of land area in the United States. By January 2026, more than 1.2 million square miles of the country were blanketed in snow. 

But even though we are only a few weeks into the meteorological fall, snowfall is well within the realm of possibility in much of the country. Many major American cities—from the Northeast and the mid-Atlantic out to the Midwest and the Rocky Mountains—have reported single-day snowfall of half a foot or more during the fall season. While cumulative snowfall totals throughout the entirety of the fall season rarely exceed a single inch in many of these places, deviations from historical weather patterns are not uncommon, particularly in the era of climate change. 

Using data from NOAA’s Northeast Regional Climate Center, Climate Crisis 247 identified the largest fall snowstorms in some of America’s largest cities. Cities are ranked on the highest recorded single-day snowfall during the meteorological fall, which begins each year on September 1st and ends on November 30th. Supplemental data on historical fall-season norms are also from NOAA. Population figures are five-year estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2024 American Community Survey. Only cities home to at least 600,000 people were considered. 

10. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

• Record single-day snowfall volume during fall season: 5.4 inches; Nov. 16, 1953
• Normal snowfall during fall season (30-year average): 0.2 inches
• Fall season temperature norms (30-year averages): 67.3°F daily high, 49.6°F daily low, 58.5°F daily avg.
• Local population: 1,579,706

9. New York, New York

• Record single-day snowfall volume during fall season: 6.4 inches; Nov. 15, 2018
• Normal snowfall during fall season (30-year average): 0.6 inches
• Fall season temperature norms (30-year averages): 64.9°F daily high, 51.9°F daily low, 58.4°F daily avg.
• Local population: 8,483,844

8. Columbus, Ohio

• Record single-day snowfall volume during fall season: 7.5 inches; Nov. 25, 1950
• Normal snowfall during fall season (30-year average): 1.4 inches
• Fall season temperature norms (30-year averages): 65.2°F daily high, 45.4°F daily low, 55.3°F daily avg.
• Local population: 914,802

7. Indianapolis, Indiana

• Record single-day snowfall volume during fall season: 7.8 inches; Nov. 2, 1966
• Normal snowfall during fall season (30-year average): 0.9 inches
• Fall season temperature norms (30-year averages): 65.2°F daily high, 45.8°F daily low, 55.5°F daily avg.
• Local population: 885,860

6. Boston, Massachusetts

• Record single-day snowfall volume during fall season: 8 inches; Nov. 27, 1940
• Normal snowfall during fall season (30-year average): 0.9 inches
• Fall season temperature norms (30-year averages): 62.3°F daily high, 47.9°F daily low, 55.1°F daily avg.
• Local population: 666,442

5. Chicago, Illinois

• Record single-day snowfall volume during fall season: 8.4 inches; Nov. 29, 2025
• Normal snowfall during fall season (30-year average): 2 inches
• Fall season temperature norms (30-year averages): 62.2°F daily high, 45.5°F daily low, 53.9°F daily avg.
• Local population: 2,711,226

4. Detroit, Michigan

• Record single-day snowfall volume during fall season: 8.5 inches; Nov. 11, 2019
• Normal snowfall during fall season (30-year average): 1.9 inches
• Fall season temperature norms (30-year averages): 61.6°F daily high, 44.5°F daily low, 53.1°F daily avg.
• Local population: 638,530

3. Seattle, Washington

• Record single-day snowfall volume during fall season: 9.4 inches; Nov. 18, 1946
• Normal snowfall during fall season (30-year average): 0.2 inches
• Fall season temperature norms (30-year averages): 61.4°F daily high, 47.2°F daily low, 54.3°F daily avg.
• Local population: 754,195

2. Washington, District of Columbia

• Record single-day snowfall volume during fall season: 11.5 inches; Nov. 11, 1987
• Normal snowfall during fall season (30-year average): 0.1 inches
• Fall season temperature norms (30-year averages): 69.4°F daily high, 52.6°F daily low, 61°F daily avg.
• Local population: 681,294

1. Denver, Colorado

• Record single-day snowfall volume during fall season: 13.5 inches; Nov. 20, 1979
• Normal snowfall during fall season (30-year average): 12 inches
• Fall season temperature norms (30-year averages): 67.2°F daily high, 36.5°F daily low, 51.8°F daily avg.
• Local population: 718,877