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See How Your City's Snow Stacks Up

News
By Brett Israel
published

snow storm, canceled flights, closed roads
A record-breaking snowstorm struck Colorado, as seen above on Feb. 5, 2012, closing an interstate highway, grounding flights, and dropping more than a foot of snow on the Denver area. (Image credit: NASA.)

This winter's snowfall has been lackluster in many U.S. cities, and there are numbers to back that up.

February is almost over, and people across the country are still wondering: Where is winter? As OurAmazingPlanet previously reported, the nation has been snow poor this winter. Last winter, the Deep South was a-buzz from an unusually big snowfall, and the Northeast was socked by a post-Christmas blizzard. But this winter, climate patterns have conspired to make winter a snow strikeout for much of the nation.

See how this winter's snowfall so far compares to last year's, and the 30-year average, for cities across the United States. While most of the snow totals are paltry, there are a few surprises.

All numbers are from the National Weather Service (NWS):

New York City— This winter: 7.4 inches (18.8 centimeters). Last winter: 61.9 inches (157.2 cm). 30-year average: 26.7 inches (67.8cm).

Boston— This winter: 7.8 inches (19.8cm). Last winter: 81 inches (206 cm). 30-year average: 45.1 inches (115 cm).

Chicago— This winter: 16 inches (40.6 cm). Last winter: 57.9 inches (147 cm). 30-year average: 36.3 inches (92.2 cm).

Minneapolis— This winter: 18 inches (45.7 cm). Last winter: 86.6 inches (220 cm). 30-year average: 51.8 inches (131.6 cm).

St. Louis— This winter: 6.3 inches (16 cm). Last winter: 36.8 inches (93.5 cm). 30-year average: 18.3 inches (46.5 cm).

Salt Lake City— This winter: 15.9 inches (40.4 cm). Last winter: 68.4 inches (174 cm). 30-year average: 56.3 inches (143 cm).

Buffalo, N.Y.— This winter: 33 inches (83.8 cm). Last winter: 111.8 inches (284 cm). 30-year average: 96.1 inches (244 cm).

Cleveland — This winter: 32.8 inches (83.3 cm). Last winter: 69.3 inches (176 cm). 30-year average: 68.3 inches (173.4).

Denver— This winter: 52.7 inches (133.9 cm). Last winter: 22.8 inches (57.9). 30-year average: 52.8 inches (134).

Anchorage, Alaska— This winter: 81.3 inches (207 centimeters)through Jan. 9 (latest data not available). Last winter: 61.9 inches (157.2 cm). 30-year average: 81.3 inches (207 cm). Alaska has struggled with heavy snow all winter, and even set new snowfall records.

Washington, D.C.— This winter: 2 inches (5 cm). Last winter: 10.1 inches (25.6 cm). 30-year average: 15.6 inches (39.6 cm).

Seattle— This winter: 9.6 inches (24 cm). Last winter: 7.8 inches (19.8 cm). 30-year average: 5.9 inches (15 cm).

Midland, Texas— This winter: 19.5 inches (49.5). Last winter: 3 inches (7.6 cm). 30-year average: 4.8 inches (12.2 cm).

You can follow OurAmazingPlanet staff writer Brett Israel on Twitter: @btisrael. Follow OurAmazingPlanet for the latest in Earth science and exploration news on Twitter @OAPlanet and on Facebook.

Brett Israel
Brett Israel was a staff writer for Live Science with a focus on environmental issues. He holds a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry and molecular biology from The University of Georgia, a master’s degree in journalism from New York University, and has studied doctorate-level biochemistry at Emory University.