Snowshoe Snowfall Totals & Accumulation Averages

This page pulls together information on when, how much and how often Snowshoe, West Virginia has snow.

There are data and descriptions here of how many days it snows and the total amount of snowfall that Snowshoe usually gets. There are also monthly and yearly counts of the days that Snowshoe normally has heavy snowstorms and deep snow accumulated on the ground. Plus there's information on when Snowshoe can expect the first and last snowfalls of the season.

All the numbers are long-term historical averages based on weather data gathered from 1991 to 2020 near Snowshoe Mountain Lodge, at an elevation of 4850 feet (1478 metres).

How Often it Snows in Snowshoe

This first table lists monthly and yearly totals for amount of snow and how many days it snows at least 0.1 inches (0.25 centimetres).

Average total snowfall and days with fresh snow in Snowshoe
Days   Inches Centi­metres
12.3 January 35.5 90.2
10.7 February 31.4 79.8
8.4 March 27.2 69.1
3.3 April 8.5 21.6
0.7 May 0.8 2.0
1.4 October 2.8 7.1
4.7 November 9.7 24.6
9.3 December 28.8 73.2
50.8 Year 144.7 367.5

These averages don't show how much the snowfall in Snowshoe varies from year to year.

In December, for instance, one in four years totals over 43.6 inches of snow. Another 25 percent of years receive 13 inches at most for the month.

Similarly in January, fresh snowfall in the heaviest years amounts to over 59.5 inches, while the lightest years get less than 29.3 inches.

New snow for February ranges from over 37.3 inches in heavy snowfall years to under 22.4 inches in light years.

When Snowshoe Has Its First & Last Snowfalls

The first snowfall of winter for Snowshoe usually arrives in October. But at least one in five years don't see snow until November.

The season's last snowfall typically happens in April. While it can snow lightly in May, it's uncommon for snow to land this late in spring.

Snowshoe is normally free of snow every year from June to September.

How Many Snowstorms Snowshoe Gets

Most days of snowfall in Snowshoe leave at least an inch of fresh snow on the ground. For 22 days a year on average, the amount of new snow totals three inches or more.

Snowstorms of over five inches a day normally occur 11 times annually. About once or twice a year Snowshoe has a major blizzard that dumps ten inches or more in one day.

Number of days per month and year on average in Snowshoe with a total snowfall of at least 1, 3, 5 or 10 inches
1 inch
2.5 cm
3 inches
7.6 cm
  5 inches
12.7 cm
10 inches
25.4 cm
11.1 5.6 January 2.2 0.3
9.9 4.8 February 2.5 0.4
7.8 4.0 March 2.1 0.4
2.7 1.2 April 0.5 0.0
0.6 0.0 May 0.0 0.0
1.2 0.5 October 0.3 0.0
3.8 1.7 November 0.8 0.2
8.3 4.1 December 2.1 0.3
45.4 21.9 Year 10.5 1.6

How Much Snow Normally Accumulates in Snowshoe

For much of winter, Snowshoe has at least an inch of snow on the ground.

Typically, on 23 days a year the snow covering Snowshoe amounts to ten or more inches deep. For six of those days on average, the snowpack builds up to over 20 inches.

Average total days per month and year in Snowshoe with snow depth of at least 1, 3, 5 or 10 inches on the ground
1 inch
2.5 cm
3 inches
7.6 cm
  5 inches
12.7 cm
10 inches
25.4 cm
22.3 17.4 January 13.4 5.7
21.5 16.3 February 12.7 6.6
16.6 11.3 March 8.4 4.2
4.5 2.4 April 1.3 0.2
0.4 0.0 May 0.0 0.0
1.3 0.5 October 0.3 0.1
6.8 3.5 November 2.5 1.2
17.3 11.1 December 7.7 4.5
90.7 62.5 Year 46.3 22.5
Reference

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI). Climate Normals.

West Virginia Snowfall
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