Biggest snowstorms since 1900
Ranked by NOAA’s Regional Snowfall Index for its Upper Midwest region (Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin), which weighs how much snow fell, over how wide an area, and how many people live there. The ranks are NOAA’s: a missing rank is a storm that stayed south of Minnesota, Wisconsin and the U.P.
| Rank | Storm | RSI |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Snowstorm of Jan. 23–28, 1978most: 30.9 in, Newberry-Luce Co Rd Commission, MI | 39.07Cat. 5 |
| 2 | Halloween Blizzard, Oct. 31 – Nov. 4, 1991most: 36.9 in, Duluth, MN | 30.18Cat. 5 |
| 3 | Snowstorm of Feb. 7–15, 1985most: 59.1 in, Herman, MI | 27.06Cat. 5 |
| 4 | Snowstorm of Mar. 14–17, 2026most: 53 in, Herman, MI | 26.97Cat. 5 |
| 5 | Snowstorm of Nov. 28 – Dec. 2, 1985most: 52 in, Herman, MI | 22.18Cat. 5 |
| 6 | Thunder Blizzard, Apr. 12–17, 2018most: 31.5 in, Marquette, MI | 15.70Cat. 4 |
| 7 | Snowstorm of Jan. 1–4, 1999most: 34 in, Hurley, WI | 15.30Cat. 4 |
| 8 | Snowstorm of Mar. 1–5, 1985most: 32.4 in, Houghton Faa Airport, MI | 15.18Cat. 4 |
| 9 | Snowstorm of Jan. 25–29, 1967most: 12 in, Kenosha Wwtp, WI | 14.72Cat. 4 |
| 10 | Snowstorm of Mar. 9–17, 1951most: 25.5 in, Jordan 1Ssw, MN | 12.97Cat. 4 |
| 12 | Snowstorm of Dec. 21–26, 2022most: 41.3 in, Herman, MI | 11.50Cat. 4 |
| 13 | Snowstorm of Feb. 28 – Mar. 6, 1966most: 33.5 in, High Landing 2 Nw, MN | 11.08Cat. 4 |
| 14 | Snowstorm of Dec. 16–21, 1929most: 33.5 in, Ironwood, MI | 10.62Cat. 4 |
| 15 | Snowstorm of Dec. 13–20, 2022most: 40 in, Finland 0.8 Nne, MN | 10.35Cat. 4 |
| 16 | Snowstorm of Jan. 27–31, 1947most: 22.2 in, Mt Mary College, WI | 10.18Cat. 4 |
| 17 | Snowstorm of Dec. 28, 1978 – Jan. 3, 1979most: 40.5 in, Hancock Houghton Co Ap, MI | 10.08Cat. 4 |
| 18 | Snowstorm of Dec. 22–29, 2009most: 28.8 in, Windom, MN | 10.07Cat. 4 |
| 19 | Snowstorm of Dec. 4–9, 1950most: 35.3 in, Duluth Wso Ap, MN | 9.80Cat. 3 |
| 20 | Snowstorm of Mar. 10–15, 1940most: 24 in, Isle, MN | 8.96Cat. 3 |
| 21 | Snowstorm of Feb. 22–27, 2007most: 28 in, Trempealeau Dam 6, WI | 8.90Cat. 3 |
| 22 | Snowstorm of Feb. 26 – Mar. 4, 2007most: 41.6 in, Wolf Ridge Elc, MN | 8.66Cat. 3 |
| 23 | Snowstorm of Dec. 7–11, 2009most: 35 in, Ironwood, MI | 8.40Cat. 3 |
| 24 | Domebuster Storm, Dec. 11–14, 2010most: 29.4 in, Marquette, MI | 8.19Cat. 3 |
| 25 | Snowstorm of Jan. 12–15, 1979most: 21.5 in, Mt Mary College, WI | 7.87Cat. 3 |
| 26 | Snowstorm of Mar. 22–26, 1996most: 32.5 in, Herman, MI | 7.76Cat. 3 |
| 27 | Snowstorm of Dec. 4–10, 1969most: 24.1 in, Duluth Wso Ap, MN | 7.58Cat. 3 |
| 28 | Snowstorm of Mar. 16–19, 1965most: 25.1 in, Collegeville St John's, MN | 7.30Cat. 3 |
| 29 | Snowstorm of Mar. 4–7, 1959most: 26 in, Necedah, WI | 7.25Cat. 3 |
| 30 | Snowstorm of Jan. 20–24, 1982most: 44.2 in, Copper Harbor 3 Wnw, MI | 6.65Cat. 3 |
| 31 | Snowstorm of Jan. 19–23, 1917most: 26 in, Downing 1 E, WI | 6.53Cat. 3 |
| 32 | Snowstorm of Jan. 4–9, 1994most: 46.5 in, Wolf Ridge Elc, MN | 6.46Cat. 3 |
| 33 | Snowstorm of Jan. 2–5, 1971most: 25.9 in, Chatham Exp Fa, MI | 6.31Cat. 3 |
| 34 | Snowstorm of Jan. 9–12, 1975most: 27 in, Riverton, MN | 6.12Cat. 3 |
| 35 | Snowstorm of Feb. 19–23, 2011most: 20 in, Ortonville 1N, MN | 5.70Cat. 2 |
| 36 | Snowstorm of Dec. 18–24, 1968most: 38.4 in, Ironwood, MI | 5.68Cat. 2 |
| 37 | Snowstorm of Feb. 3–7, 1908most: 25 in, Ironwood, MI | 5.46Cat. 2 |
| 38 | Snowstorm of Dec. 18–22, 1951most: 18 in, Two Rivers, WI | 5.00Cat. 2 |
| 39 | Snowstorm of Dec. 9–14, 1970most: 23.5 in, West Bend, WI | 4.99Cat. 2 |
| 40 | Snowstorm of Jan. 29 – Feb. 3, 2015most: 21.8 in, Milwaukee-Timmerman A/P, WI | 4.75Cat. 2 |
| 41 | Snowstorm of Nov. 27 – Dec. 3, 1974most: 11.3 in, Saxon 1Wsw, WI | 4.70Cat. 2 |
| 42 | Snowstorm of Dec. 9–12, 2000most: 15.5 in, Racine Wwtp, WI | 4.66Cat. 2 |
| 43 | Snowstorm of Nov. 22–30, 1950most: 26.6 in, Grand Marais 2 E, MI | 4.62Cat. 2 |
| 44 | Snowstorm of Feb. 21–24, 2023most: 28.9 in, Marquette, MI | 4.60Cat. 2 |
| 45 | Snowstorm of Nov. 21–29, 1993most: 27.3 in, Wolf Ridge Elc, MN | 4.57Cat. 2 |
| 46 | Snowstorm of Feb. 16–22, 1952most: 30.4 in, Marshall, MN | 4.56Cat. 2 |
| 47 | Snowstorm of Feb. 5–8, 2008most: 21.4 in, Milwaukee 3.6 Nnw, WI | 4.55Cat. 2 |
| 48 | Snowstorm of Jan. 29 – Feb. 2, 1908most: 14.5 in, Oconto 4 W, WI | 4.49Cat. 2 |
| 49 | Snowstorm of Jan. 27–31, 1909most: 16 in, Ironwood, MI | 4.48Cat. 2 |
| 50 | Snowstorm of Mar. 20–24, 1952most: 24.5 in, Bergland Dam, MI | 4.47Cat. 2 |
| 51 | Snowstorm of Feb. 20–24, 1993most: 16 in, Ontario 3E, WI | 4.46Cat. 2 |