
Where in the U.S. can snow pile up the most during the winter months?
Following World Snow Day on Jan. 19, Lawn Love ranked 2025’s Snowiest Counties.
We compared 258 counties based on 3 categories. More specifically, we looked at historical snowfall records — including annual snowfall, 1-day, and 3-day records. We also considered temperature and demand for snow removal services, among 7 total metrics.
Put on your snowsuit and explore our ranking below. To learn how we ranked the counties, see our methodology.
In this article
- County rankings
- Top 5 close up
- Key insights
- Expert take
- Behind the ranking
- Cold Hands, Warm Snowblower: Winter Lawn Care
County rankings
See how each county fared in our ranking:
Top 5 close up
Check out the slideshow below for highlights on each of our top 5 snowiest counties.
Key insights
16 frigid states like Alaska, Maine, and Montana, finish in the snowiest half of our ranking. 6 counties, including Onondaga County, New York (No. 11) — home to Syracuse — receive over 9 feet of snow each year on average.
The Great Basin Desert — a temperate desert with high elevation — encompasses Salt Lake County, Utah (No. 19), and Nevada counties Washoe (No. 28), White Pine (No. 56), and Elko (No. 62). These mountainous regions flurry to the top with the right altitude in some places for the possibility of snow throughout all seasons.
15 states — such as Florida, Texas, and Georgia — defrost in the bottom half, with 53 counties getting an inch or less of snow on average each year. 25 of these counties receive an average of 0 inches of snow per year.
Explore beyond the tip of the iceberg with more frosty insights below.
Expert take
Shoveling snow can be dangerous — it leads to hundreds of deaths and about 11,500 injuries every year.
We turned to a panel of experts to learn some safe shoveling practices among other snowy weather suggestions. Read their insights below.
- What are your top 3 tips for clearing snow safely?
- What, if anything, can homeowners do ahead of a snowstorm to make cleanup easier?
- Who should invest in a snowblower?
- What are 3 ways snow can damage your home or property?
- When is the best time to shovel snow?



What are your top three tips for clearing snow safely?
1. Know your own physical limitations and respect them. Clearing snow is intense work. Even if you consider yourself to be in good shape, take breaks, go inside, take off your winter weather gear, and deliberately rest. If you have a lot of snow to clear, commit to this more than once.
2. Know the current conditions and respect them. For example, “wet” snow looks largely the same as lighter-density snow, but you’ll be moving 2-3 times the weight with each shovel-full. You also can’t see air temperature and wind chill when you look out the window, but these factors can create life-threatening conditions at the extreme.
3. Be particularly careful working at the end of your driveway — especially if visibility is already poor because of falling snow or darkness. Plowed snow banks make the road narrower while hiding you from an approaching driver, and the car will require a longer braking distance in bad weather. Consider wearing a high-visibility vest or other clothing with your usual winter coat.
What, if anything, can homeowners do ahead of a snowstorm to make cleanup easier?
It’s important to buy at least one snow shovel and a bucket of salt before the bad weather starts. In the fall, move these tools to an easily accessible storage spot within your house or garage, where they can live through the winter when not in use.
Who should invest in a snowblower?
Snowblowers are the most attractive option when you have a long driveway, as they make easy work of it. However, snowblowers need shelter and they need to be thoughtfully maintained — plus they aren’t as easy to steer as lawnmowers.
The more property you have to clear, the more attractive an investment they become, despite their disadvantages. Also, the more property you have, the less you worry about where the snowblower is throwing your snow, which isn’t always easy to control.
What are three ways snow can damage your home or property?
1. If your roof isn’t well insulated the snow will melt against it and you can get “ice dams” where meltwater runs down to the colder edge of the roof and freezes again. More meltwater then builds up behind the dam, where it soaks shingles and seeps into your house.
2. Ice dams and the icicles that hang from them can bend gutters or strip them off your house.
3. If it snows enough, the weight of snow can collapse a roof. Some roof types and trusses fail faster than others, so you can get your home inspected to determine if it is more vulnerable and if it can be reinforced to hold up under greater weight. You can also buy a roof rake, for pulling snow off your roof, to avoid that heavy buildup.
When is the best time to shovel snow?
I’ve heard that it’s better to shovel in the morning, when the snow is fluffiest. Regardless of the time, I try to shovel as it snows, letting a few inches accumulate before I easily clear it away — even though I know I’ll be back out in a few hours to do the same thing again and again.

What are your top three tips for clearing snow safely?
- Wear warm clothes, snow boots with good traction, and waterproof gloves.
- Do not overexert oneself. Do the snow clearing in stages if needed.
- Use a snow thrower and/or blower, or hire someone to do the work.
What, if anything, can homeowners do ahead of a snowstorm to make cleanup easier?
Check that all snow-clearing equipment is in good condition.
If a gas-powered snowblower is used, make sure there is enough gas, and if an electric-powered snowblower is used, make sure it is fully charged — or have backup batteries ready.
Who should invest in a snowblower?
Anyone who can afford one.
What are three ways snow can damage your home or property?
1. Ice dams forming on the edges of sloped roofs can:
- Cause damage to gutters and shingles.
- Cause roof leaks.
- Lead to the formation of mold and mildew and [resulting] damage to ceilings, walls, and insulation.
2. Falling icicles can be dangerous.
3. If the roof is not properly designed for snow load, excessive buildup of snow could cause roof collapses.
When is the best time to shovel snow?
When there is enough light (natural or artificial) and when the conditions are safe.
Behind the ranking
First, we determined the factors (metrics) that are most relevant to rank the Snowiest Counties. We then assigned a weight to each factor based on its importance and grouped those factors into 3 categories: Snowfall, Climate, and Snow Removal and Preparedness. The categories, factors, and their weights are listed in the table below.
For each of the 258 U.S. counties with available data, we then gathered data on each factor from the sources listed below the table.
Finally, we calculated scores (out of 100 points) for each county to determine its rank in each factor, each category, and overall. A county’s Overall Score is the average of its scores across all factors and categories. The highest Overall Score ranked “Best” (No. 1) and the lowest “Worst” (No. 258).
Notes:
- The “Least Snowy” among individual factors may not be No. 258 due to ties.
- Some location names (Census Area, Borough, or Municipality) are considered counties or their equivalents by the U.S. Census Bureau.
- This ranking is based on available data, and may not reflect snowfall records broken in counties that were excluded from this ranking.
- Valdez-Cordova Census Area, Alaska (previously No. 1), was divided into the Copper River Census Area (No. 2) and Petersburg Borough.
- Shasta County, California, was not included in this year’s ranking.
Sources
Data Axle, Google Ads, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Cold Hands, Warm Snowblower: Winter Lawn Care
Snow is pretty to look at, but can be a challenge for homeowners to manage on their own. Winter can be extra tough for lawns. Keep your grass healthy with help from our guides below.
Snow Removal
- Winter Storm Checklist and Snow Removal Tips
- How to Remove Snow Safely
- 8 Best Snow Shovels of 2025
- 7 Best Snowblowers of 2025
- 8 Best Battery-Powered Snowblowers of 2025
- How Much Does Snow Removal Cost in 2025?
Winter Lawn Damage Prevention and Recovery
- How to Protect Your Lawn From Winter Damage
- How to Keep Grass Green in Winter
- How to Winterize Your Lawn
- How to Repair Winter Damage in Your Lawn
- 5 Signs of Freeze Damage on Plants
- How to Save Plants After a Freeze
- What is Winterkill?
Many lawn care professionals undertake snow removal projects to stay busy during the winter season.
Bundle up and let Lawn Love connect you with the best snow removal crews near you while you stay cozy inside.
Media resources
Quotes from Lawn Love Editor-in-Chief, Sharon Sullivan
- Chicago’s Cook County, Illinois (No. 43), claims the largest fleet of businesses offering snow removal services and equipment — 171 local businesses — followed by Hartford County, Connecticut (No. 45), and Kent County, Michigan (No. 55).
- Copper River Census Area, Alaska (No. 2), has the highest recorded historical snowfall over a single day — 57 inches or 4.75 feet of snow.
- Some regions are chilly but arid, receiving less snow despite the cold weather. North Slope Borough, Alaska (No. 47), Williams County, North Dakota (No. 94), and Valley County, Montana (No. 102) — land among the 30 coldest counties but receive less than 3 feet of snow on average per year.
- Chippewa County, Michigan (No. 18), has the 4th-highest average annual historical snowfall — 119.3 inches (nearly 10 feet) — and is home to the International 500 Snowmobile Race.
- Coconino County, Arizona (No. 7), received the most snowfall over 3 days, 95 inches or nearly 8 feet. Typically, the area only gets an average of 87.9 inches of snow per year.
Main photo credit: Studio Romantic / Adobe Stock / License