What city has the worst snow?

There isn't one single "worst" snow city, as it depends on snowfall quantity vs. impact, but Aomori City, Japan, leads globally in average yearly snow (over 300 inches), while in the U.S., Syracuse, NY, is known for massive lake-effect snow, often ranking as the snowiest major city, with places like Buffalo also getting huge dumps. Cities like Chicago face major disruption, and historical storms in the Northeast (e.g., Blizzard of '88) show extreme, paralyzing snow, notes History.com and Weather Underground.


What city in the US has the worst winter?

Fairbanks has the lowest average annual temperatures of any major city, with winter lows routinely plunging deep below zero. Redfin ranks it at the top of the coldest cities list due to its interior Alaska location and fully continental climate. Their cold-weather analysis places Fairbanks in a category of its own.

What are the top 10 snowiest cities?

Top U.S. Snowiest Cities
  • Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. ...
  • Syracuse, New York. Upstate New York is certainly no stranger to snow. ...
  • Juneau, Alaska. The capital of Alaska gets 93.6 inches of snowfall per year. ...
  • Flagstaff, Arizona. ...
  • Duluth, Minnesota. ...
  • Erie, Pennsylvania. ...
  • Burlington, Vermont. ...
  • Muskegon, Michigan.


Which state has the worst snow?

There isn't one single "worst" state for snow, as it depends on what you mean by "worst"—heavy accumulation, brutal storms, or extreme cold—but Alaska consistently leads for overall volume, while states like Michigan, New York, Maine, and New Hampshire (Great Lakes/New England) see intense lake-effect/coastal blizzards, and Minnesota/Dakotas offer extreme cold with heavy snow, making them contenders for harshest overall winters. 

Which US states have the worst winters?

The US states with the worst winters typically include Alaska, North Dakota, Minnesota, Montana, Wyoming, and Wisconsin, known for extreme cold, heavy snow (especially lake-effect in the Great Lakes region), and harsh conditions, with Alaska generally considered the harshest due to extreme darkness and prolonged cold, while the Plains states face brutal wind chills. Other contenders are Maine, South Dakota, Michigan, Idaho, and New Hampshire, often cited for consistent freezing temperatures and significant snowfall.
 


Which City Has Had The Worst Weather?



What states have heavy snow?

The states that snow a lot in the U.S. are primarily in New England, the Great Lakes, and the Rocky Mountains, with Alaska, New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine, New York, Michigan, and Colorado consistently ranking high for annual snowfall, often receiving many feet of snow, particularly in mountainous or lake-effect zones.
 

Which U.S. city has the worst weather?

Quillayute, Wash. – It's not a city but a weather-reporting center which ranks as the No. 1 worst weather location. It's the cloudiest U.S city (240 days), the most humid (83% relative humidity) and second in terms of rain (104.5 inches) and number of rainy days (210).

What state has zero snow?

Hawaii is the only state with an average annual snowfall of zero inches, but the mountain peaks of Mauna Loa, Mauna Kea and Haleakala can get up to 8 inches each winter! However, you won't need a snow shovel in the residential areas of Hawaii.


Where should I live if I love snow?

Duluth, Minnesota

If you're on the lookout for a winter home and fun snow activities, Minnesota may be the place for you. Duluth is the fifth-coldest city in the U.S., with temps that frequently go into the negatives.

What city has the heaviest snowfall?

1. Valdez, Alaska
  • A​verage yearly snowfall: 325.3 inches.
  • Average s​nowiest month: December (70.5 inches)
  • R​ecord snowiest day: Jan. 16, 1990 (47.5 inches)
  • R​ecord snow depth: April 15, 1929 (135 inches)


Which city has 12 months snowfall?

North Sikkim - A Perinnial Snow Place in India

Yumthang is known for its nearly year-round snowfall, making it one of the best destinations for snow in India.


What large US city gets the most snow?

Syracuse named snowiest city in U.S., 123.8 inches (314 cm) annually. Jay Peak Resort, 350 inches (890 cm) annually. Lookout Pass, 400 inches (1,000 cm) annually.

What is the gloomiest city in America?

The gloomiest city in the U.S. by cloud cover is often cited as Cold Bay, Alaska, with extreme year-round cloudiness, while for larger, populated areas, cities in the Pacific Northwest (like Seattle, Portland, Bellingham, Astoria) and the Great Lakes region (like Buffalo, Grand Rapids) consistently rank highest for cloudy days and low sunshine, with Seattle and Portland often topping "gloom index" lists for major cities. 

What is America's coldest city?

The coldest major city in the U.S. is Fairbanks, Alaska, due to its extreme continental climate and location in a valley, with average annual temperatures around 28°F and winter lows frequently plunging far below zero, though the even more northern town of Utqiaġvik (Barrow), Alaska, is technically colder by average annual temperature. Other consistently cold cities include Grand Forks, North Dakota, and Duluth, Minnesota, which experience severe winter conditions in the Lower 48 states.
 


What city has the worst living conditions?

Global Liveability Index

Copenhagen was ranked the most liveable city in 2025, while Damascus was ranked the least liveable.

What is America's snowiest city?

The snowiest city in the U.S. depends on population size, but Valdez, Alaska, is often cited for overall snowy locations (around 325 inches), while Syracuse, New York leads among major cities with over 50,000 people (around 128 inches) due to lake-effect snow, though other mountain towns like Truckee, CA, and Houghton, MI, also see massive amounts. Smaller spots like Crater Lake, OR (463 in) or Blue Canyon, CA (241 in) get even more, but don't meet city criteria.
 

What is the snowiest town on Earth?

The snowiest city in the world is often cited as Aomori, Japan, averaging around 26 feet (8 meters) of snow annually, while the single snowiest inhabited place is Sukayu Onsen, Japan, deep in the mountains, with records exceeding 50 feet (15 meters) in some years, all due to Siberian winds picking up moisture from the Sea of Japan. 


What state snows the most?

Alaska is the snowiest U.S. state by average annual snowfall, with some areas receiving over 300 inches, though specific locations like Valdez, AK, and Mount Rainier, WA, see extreme amounts; other very snowy states include New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine, and Michigan, often due to lake-effect snow.
 

What city has never seen snow?

Sacramento, California

Freezing temps are rare in Sacramento, and the city averages 0 inches of snow per year.

What is the coldest state in the USA?

Alaska is the coldest state in the U.S., with the lowest average annual temperature (around 28.1°F or -2.2°C) and the nation's record low of -80°F, followed by North Dakota, Minnesota, and Maine as the next coldest states based on average temperatures.
 


Has it ever snowed in all 50 states?

Yes, snow has fallen in every U.S. state, including Hawaii (on its volcanic peaks) and Florida (rarely, but it happens), with all 50 states experiencing snow cover simultaneously in February 2010. While some states like Louisiana and Florida are rare snow destinations, winter storms often bring flakes to unexpected southern locations, completing the feat for all states in a single season.
 

What is the #1 weather killer?

Heat is the leading weather-related killer in the United States, resulting in hundreds of fatalities each year. Heat can be very taxing on the body and can lead to heat related illnesses or make existing health conditions worse.

What city has the worst winter?

Fairbanks, Alaska

With a minimum average temperature of about minus 17 degrees Fahrenheit, Fairbanks takes the cake as the coldest city in the U.S. The northernmost major city in Alaska, Fairbanks has seen record cold temperatures reaching minus 66 degrees in the past.


What state ranks #1 in tornadoes?

Probably no surprise that Texas averages the most. However, maybe a surprise to some that fourth place on this list is the state of Illinois, behind only Texas, Kansas and Oklahoma.