Winter Storm Records
Biggest Snowstorms & Snow Day History
The storms that shut down schools for weeks, paralyzed entire cities, and rewrote the record books. From the Blizzard of 1888 to the Polar Vortex — how much snow it takes to bring a city to a halt.
Historic Winter Storms That Shut Down Schools
The Great Blizzard of 1888
March 11–14, 1888Northeast US
400+ deaths. NYC paralyzed for 2 weeks. The storm that invented the subway — NYC decided to build underground transit because surface transportation failed so completely.
The Blizzard of 1978
February 5–7, 1978New England & New York
73 deaths, 4,500+ injuries. MA and RI declared states of emergency. Thousands stranded on highways. School closures lasted a full week across most of New England.
Superstorm 1993 (Storm of the Century)
March 12–15, 1993Entire US East Coast
318 deaths. 26 states affected. Every major airport on the East Coast closed simultaneously. Thunder snow reported from Alabama to Pennsylvania.
The Blizzard of 1996
January 6–8, 1996Northeast & Mid-Atlantic
NYC recorded 20 inches — the largest single-storm total since 1947. The storm was followed by a second system 4 days later, producing another 10–15 inches. Schools closed for the entire week in PA, NJ, and NY.
Snowmageddon (2010)
February 5–6, 2010Mid-Atlantic
Two back-to-back blizzards hit DC within 5 days. The federal government shut down for 4 days. DC's Metro rail system above-ground sections froze. Roofs collapsed under the weight of 3+ feet of snow.
Winter Storm Nemo (2013)
February 8–9, 2013New England
Boston's 5th biggest snowstorm on record. Over 650,000 power outages. CT and MA governors banned all road travel. Schools closed for 3–5 days.
The 2014–15 Boston Winter
January–March 2015Boston, MA
The snowiest winter in Boston's recorded history. Three major blizzards in 3 weeks. The MBTA transit system collapsed. Snow piles remained in parking lots until July. Schools used 7+ snow days, forcing calendar extensions.
The Polar Vortex (January 2019)
January 29–31, 2019Midwest & Great Lakes
Chicago hit -23°F actual temperature, -50°F wind chill. Over 1,500 flight cancellations at O'Hare. USPS suspended mail delivery in 6 states. Schools closed for 3 days across IL, WI, MN, MI — not for snow, but for cold.
Single-Storm Snowfall Records by City
| City | Record Snowfall | Storm | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buffalo, NY | 81.5" | December 2022 Blizzard | 2022 |
| Rochester, NY | 46.8" | Blizzard of 1966 | 1966 |
| Boston, MA | 27.6" | Blizzard of 2003 | 2003 |
| NYC (Central Park) | 26.9" | Blizzard of 2006 | 2006 |
| Philadelphia, PA | 30.7" | Blizzard of 1996 | 1996 |
| Chicago, IL | 23.0" | Blizzard of 1967 | 1967 |
| Washington, DC | 28.0" | Snowmageddon | 2010 |
| Denver, CO | 25.8" | December 1913 Storm | 1913 |