Biggest snowfalls recorded in Alaska history
Almost everyone who lives in areas prone to snow seems to have a legendary snowstorm story: the blizzard of '78, the Storm of the Century, any of the blizzards or bomb cyclones that have happened since then. And according to experts, historic snowstorms—the kind you measure all other snowy days against—are becoming more regular.
Despite shorter, warmer winters—driven by climate change—in many areas, blizzards are predicted to become more frequent and intense. Since warmer air holds more moisture, more snow is likely to fall when temperatures are just below freezing versus when temperatures are significantly below the 32 degrees Fahrenheit freezing point.
Warmer-than-normal winter air is impacting nearly every region of the U.S., according to a 2022 study by Climate Central. Since 1981, winter temperatures across the country have risen over 1 degree Fahrenheit, creating the right conditions for intense snowfall. As of 2014, the number of blizzards the U.S. experienced was already four times greater than it was during the mid-20th century.
Stacker compiled a list of the biggest 1-day snowfalls in Alaska using data from the National Centers for Environmental Information to better understand historical snowfall events on a local level.
Jan 12, 1932- Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area: 36 inches
Jan 14, 1911
- Ketchikan Gateway Borough: 36 inches
Dec 13, 1923
- Kenai Peninsula Borough: 36 inches
Mar 11, 1951
- Sitka City and Borough: 42 inches
Mar 17, 1995
- Matanuska-Susitna Borough: 42 inches
Jan 2, 2012
- Haines Borough: 42 inches
Feb 8, 1956
- Southeast Fairbanks Census Area: 43 inches
Dec 23, 1959
- Anchorage Municipality: 44 inches
Mar 15, 1918
- Copper River Census Area: 57 inches
Dec 29, 1955
- Chugach Census Area: 62 inches
