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Snow Day Chances by US State

Which states get the most snow days? The 20 snowiest states — led by Vermont (about 89 inches a year), Maine (about 77), and New Hampshire (about 71) — typically see 5 to 8 school closure days per winter, with closure triggers ranging from about 8 inches in Vermont to 2–3 inches in western Washington. Pick your state below for local norms and a pre-focused calculator.

The 20 snowiest state guides

The bottom line: each guide explains what actually closes schools in that state, gives average snowfall for its main cities, and loads the calculator pre-focused on a major city.

Averages are approximate NOAA/NCEI 1991–2020 climate normals, rounded; “closes around” is the typical overnight-plus-commute snow that pushes a district toward closing, generalized from district practices.

Why states differ so much

The bottom line: equipment, terrain, and expectations — not raw snowfall — decide how much snow closes school.

Anchorage absorbs about 75 inches a year with barely a closure; Seattle shuts down on 2 or 3 because wet snow falls onto near-freezing pavement and turns to ice on hills. Vermont’s dirt roads and New York City’s 180-day-few-closures culture sit at opposite ends of the tolerance spectrum, and the snow day calculator bakes each state’s baseline into its score. The methodology page lists every baseline.

Last updated: October 2026