3 of the Snowiest Places in the U.S. are in Michigan

West Michigan is one of the snowiest places in the country according to a 30-year report from the National Weather Service.

If you love snow, lots of snow, Michigan is the place for you. But it's not just Northern Michigan or the Upper Peninsula getting all that white stuff. That Lake Effect snow is serious business. That must be why two cities in West Michigan are in the top 10 snowiest cities in the United States. Let's break it down.

The data below, using data from the National Weather Service (NOAA), shows the average annual snowfall in each city over a 30-year span.

3 of the Snowiest Cities in the U.S. are in Michigan

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Sault Ste Marie

Sault Ste Marie, Michigan has the 2nd most snowfall in the United States of America averaging 81.4 inches a year.

Sault Ste Marie had its biggest snowfall in 1996 (161.6 inches.) 2 years later it had its smallest snowfall (36.4 inches) in 1998.

(Data Source: NOAA)

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Muskegon

Muskegon, Michigan gets the 5th most snow with 71.4 inches a year on average. In 2018, Muskegon received nearly 92 inches of snow, but its biggest snowfall came way back in 1978 (140.6 inches.) In 2000 this small West Michigan town only received 7.3 inches of snow.

(Data Source: NOAA)

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Grand Rapids

Grand Rapids, Michigan grabs the 7th spot, averaging 60.6 inches of snow a year. The biggest snow total for Grand Rapids wasn't that long ago as they received 105.6 inches in 2014.

(Data Source: NOAA)

The top 10 average annual snowfall report from the National Weather Service had one big surprise for me. That would be #10 Flagstaff, Arizona. We think of Arizona as super hot and bone dry. However, Flagstaff is over a mile high in elevation. You can see the top 10 list below and check out the much larger list with more info by clicking here.

10 Snowiest Cities in the U.S.

#10 Flagstaff, Arizona – 58.7 inches
#9 Juneau, Alaska – 59.3 inches
#8 Burlington, VT - 59.9 inches
#7 Grand Rapids, Michigan – 60.6 inches
#6 Buffalo, New York – 70.1 inches
#5 Muskegon, Michigan – 71.4 inches
#4 Caribou, Maine – 75.5 inches
#3 Erie, Pennsylvania – 77.5 inches
#2 Sault Ste Marie, Michigan – 81.4 inches
#1 Syracuse, New York – 94.9 inches

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Gallery Credit: Jacob Harrison

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Source: 3 of the Snowiest Places in the U.S. are in Michigan

Filed Under: grand rapids, snow, Muskegon, Sault Ste. Marie

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