All of these Snowfall records occurred in the Western USA. We suspect there are some pretty big numbers coming out of Alaska, but there’s no one there to record ‘em.
Single Day Snowfall Record
76 inches (6+ feet) in Sliver Lake, Colorado
– This storm didn’t stop after 24 hours, it raged for 32.5 hours straight and ultimately left 95 inches (8 feet) of snow, which is the record for one continuous snowfall.
– Silver Lake is at 10,220 feet and about 40 miles west of Denver.
– This record storm began at 2:30pm on April 14, 1921.
12-Month Snowfall Record
1,225 inches (102 feet) at Paradise (5,400 feet) on Mount Rainer, WA from Feb. 19, 1971 – Feb. 18, 1972.
– Mount Rainer is 14,411 feet tall and averages 635 inches (53 feet) per year
– Minimum annual snowfall was 313 inches (26 feet)in 1939-40 (that is more than most ski resorts average)
– Maximum snowpack 357 feet (30 feet) in March 1955
– Heaviest snow occurs between 5,000 & 8,000 feet
– It snows every month of every year on this mountain
– Paradise on Mount Rainier is the snowiest place on Earth
– Stratovolcano 54 miles east of Seattle that is the most topographically prominent mountain in the lower 48
– Gonna blow up soon and is on the “Decade Volcano List” and is considered one of the most dangerous volcanoes in the world
– 26 major glaciers that are fed by the copious amounts of snowfall
Snow Depth Record
454 inches (38 feet) in Tamarack, California
– USA single month snow record of 390 inches (32.5 feet) in January 1911
– Sierra Nevada annual snowfall record at 884 inches (74 feet) in 1906-1907
– Tamarack sits at 6,913 feet near Bear Valley ski resort
