With as much snow as Minnesota gets, it’s only natural to wonder where the snowiest place in the state actually is. The state itself turns into a magical winter wonderland every season, and folks like to know exactly what they’re getting into when they move or visit the state come wintertime. Luckily, the NOAA National Climactic Data Center has made it easy to find out. From 1981 to 2010, they tallied the results. It turns out, the snowiest town in Minnesota is Duluth! If you’ve ever found yourself curious about what Duluth’s average snowfall is, or about the town itself, here’s a bit of a sneak peek as to what it’s like to live in the chilliest, snowiest town in the state. The winter weather in Minnesota makes every season an unexpected thrill!
According to the NOAA, Duluth gets an average of 81 inches of snow per year. That’s more than six feet!
Sharon Mollerus/Flickr
This snow is largely attributed to the city’s location on Lake Superior, and the area is unsurprisingly known as “the snow belt.” While beautiful, the lake is responsible for Duluth’s lake-effect snow. Lake-effect snow develops over open water and can affect areas as far as 20 miles inland. It contributes to quite a few snowy days in Minnesota.
Tony Webster/Flickr
Because Duluth is right on the water, it often gets dumped with huge amounts of lake-effect snow!
Aaron Molina/Flickr
Though the people of Duluth are well-equipped to handle a large amount of snow, there are still some challenges. Driving - and parking - on the city’s many hills can cause problems for those not accustomed to it. The snowiest place in Minnesota can provide quite a challenge for locals and tourists.
Peter Anderson/Flickr
That is … if you’re able to drive at all. Every once in a while, a big storm will roll through and put the city at a standstill.
Sharon Mollerus/Flickr
But more often than not, things aren’t too dicey for too long. The folks in Minnesota are stalwart folk, and especially those in Duluth.
Sharon Mollerus/Flickr
Depending on the conditions and forecast, plows are out laying salt and sand before a storm ever hits. And after the storm, they’re there to make sure everything gets cleaned up.
Jacob Norlund/Flickr
Really, driving is probably the biggest inconvenience to a snowstorm in Duluth. Otherwise, the city is breathtakingly beautiful.
Joe/Flickr
From the sight of downtown Duluth blanketed in snow…
Jacob Norlund/Flickr
…to the city’s gorgeous parks…
Sharon Mollerus/Flickr
…to the sparkle of Lake Superior under a winter sun…
Doreen M/TripAdvisor
…the town that gets the most snow in Minnesota is truly breathtaking.
Tony Webster/Flickr
Does it surprise you that the average snowfall in Duluth makes it the snowiest town in Minnesota? Have you ever experienced a winter there? Share your thoughts in the comments below – and don’t forget to check out our list of the 16 snowiest cities in Minnesota. If you’re feeling up for a bit of a winter adventure, consider this drive for magical winter views from Duluth, Minnesota to the Canadian border.
Sharon Mollerus/Flickr
Tony Webster/Flickr
Aaron Molina/Flickr
Peter Anderson/Flickr
Jacob Norlund/Flickr
Joe/Flickr
Doreen M/TripAdvisor
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Address: Duluth, MN, USA
The OIYS Visitor Center
Snow In Minnesota March 06, 2020 Meghan Kraft What is there to do in the snow in Minnesota? You’ll find quite a bit of snow in Minnesota, especially due to its northern-midwest location. Most large parks and gardens tend to offer cross-country ski trails, and there are more than 22,000 miles of trails that are perfect for snowmobiling. Attend a winter festival, perhaps, or experience a fascinating new winter sport, like ice fishing or dog sledding. There’s plenty of opportunity for downhill skiing, and if the cold gets to be too much, you can always pop into a high-end restaurant to warm up. How much snow does Minnesota get each winter? Minnesota gets a solid amount of snow every year, though the average annual snowfall varies depending on your location in the state. The southwest area of Minnesota tends to get about 36 inches of snow a year, whereas the Lake Superior “snow belt” can bet up to 70 inches of the cold and wet stuff. What is the most snow ever recorded in Minnesota? The most snowfall in twenty-four hours to be recorded in Minnesota was 36 inches, during a storm in January, 1994, and the most snow in one storm was 47 inches. It was the same storm, from January 6-8, 1994, that pummeled the state with this record amount of snow.
The OIYS Visitor Center
Snow In Minnesota
March 06, 2020
Meghan Kraft
What is there to do in the snow in Minnesota? You’ll find quite a bit of snow in Minnesota, especially due to its northern-midwest location. Most large parks and gardens tend to offer cross-country ski trails, and there are more than 22,000 miles of trails that are perfect for snowmobiling. Attend a winter festival, perhaps, or experience a fascinating new winter sport, like ice fishing or dog sledding. There’s plenty of opportunity for downhill skiing, and if the cold gets to be too much, you can always pop into a high-end restaurant to warm up. How much snow does Minnesota get each winter? Minnesota gets a solid amount of snow every year, though the average annual snowfall varies depending on your location in the state. The southwest area of Minnesota tends to get about 36 inches of snow a year, whereas the Lake Superior “snow belt” can bet up to 70 inches of the cold and wet stuff. What is the most snow ever recorded in Minnesota? The most snowfall in twenty-four hours to be recorded in Minnesota was 36 inches, during a storm in January, 1994, and the most snow in one storm was 47 inches. It was the same storm, from January 6-8, 1994, that pummeled the state with this record amount of snow.
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
You’ll find quite a bit of snow in Minnesota, especially due to its northern-midwest location. Most large parks and gardens tend to offer cross-country ski trails, and there are more than 22,000 miles of trails that are perfect for snowmobiling. Attend a winter festival, perhaps, or experience a fascinating new winter sport, like ice fishing or dog sledding. There’s plenty of opportunity for downhill skiing, and if the cold gets to be too much, you can always pop into a high-end restaurant to warm up.
How much snow does Minnesota get each winter?
Minnesota gets a solid amount of snow every year, though the average annual snowfall varies depending on your location in the state. The southwest area of Minnesota tends to get about 36 inches of snow a year, whereas the Lake Superior “snow belt” can bet up to 70 inches of the cold and wet stuff.
What is the most snow ever recorded in Minnesota?
The most snowfall in twenty-four hours to be recorded in Minnesota was 36 inches, during a storm in January, 1994, and the most snow in one storm was 47 inches. It was the same storm, from January 6-8, 1994, that pummeled the state with this record amount of snow.
