The worst storms combined heavy snow, wind and a wide area. Prepare early for any winter storm warning.
| Storm | Dates | Highest category (NCEI) | Notable figures (NCEI) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Great Appalachian Storm | November 22 to 30, 1950 | Category 5, Ohio Valley | 62 inches at Coburn Creek, WV; 108 mph gust at Newark, NJ |
| Great Blizzard of 1978 | January 23 to 28, 1978 | Category 5, Upper Midwest | 3 feet at South Bend, IN; drifts of 10 to 20 feet |
| Superstorm of 1993 | March 12 to 15, 1993 | Category 5, Northeast, Southeast and Ohio Valley | Over 100 million people affected; 35.4 inches in 24 hours at Syracuse, NY |
| Blizzard of 1996 | January 6 to 9, 1996 | Category 5, Southeast, Ohio Valley and Northeast | 47 inches at Big Meadows, VA; about $3 billion damage; 154 fatalities |
| Groundhog Day Blizzard | February 1 to 3, 2011 | Category 5, Ohio Valley | Nearly two feet from Oklahoma City to Chicago; over $1 billion damage |
How to read the list
NCEI's Historic Snow Storms list describes storms by regional impact category. It is a selected list of historic storms, not a complete ranking, so there is no official number one. The five storms in the table reached category 5 in at least one region.
Superstorm of 1993
NCEI describes it as one of the most devastating storms of the 20th century, with record snowfall and deadly tornadoes across the eastern third of the country. The heaviest snow fell from the southern Appalachians to the Canadian border, with some locations over 40 inches. It brought the largest interruption of air travel due to weather in U.S. history, according to the NCEI text, and hurricane conditions and a storm surge in Florida.
Blizzard of 1996
It rivaled the 1993 storm for crippling snowfall in the urban corridor. Over 20 inches fell in a swath from central Virginia to southwestern Massachusetts, including New York, Washington, Baltimore and Providence, and 30.7 inches in Philadelphia. Clean-up left the corridor paralyzed for a week.
Great Appalachian Storm of 1950
NCEI calls it the greatest snowstorm the Central Appalachians have ever experienced. Over 30 inches fell from Erie, Pennsylvania, south into West Virginia, and the cold reached -26°F on Mt. Mitchell, North Carolina.
Great Blizzard of 1978
It produced the second lowest atmospheric pressure ever recorded over the contiguous U.S. from a non-tropical system, according to NCEI. Indiana, Ohio and Michigan declared states of emergency, and 55 mph winds made drifts of 10 to 20 feet.
Groundhog Day Blizzard of 2011
It affected four regions, dropping snow from the Ohio Valley and Texas through New England, with nearly two feet from Oklahoma City to Chicago and over $1 billion in damage.
Other storms on the list
The list also includes the Knickerbocker Storm of 1922, which produced the heaviest snowfall in Washington, D.C., history, the 1947 blizzard in New York and the Chicago Blizzard of 1967, with 23 inches.
Check your own location
See current official alerts and the impact for your ZIP code.
Common questions
What was the worst snowstorm in U.S. history?
There is no single official ranking. NOAA NCEI's historic storm list puts five storms at category 5 in at least one region: the 1950 Great Appalachian Storm, the 1978 Great Blizzard, the 1993 Superstorm, the 1996 Blizzard and the 2011 Groundhog Day Blizzard.
How much snow did the 1993 Superstorm drop?
NCEI says the heaviest snow fell from the southern Appalachians to the Canadian border with some locations over 40 inches, 5 feet at Mt. Leconte, Tennessee, and 35.4 inches in 24 hours at Syracuse, New York, an all-time 24-hour record.
What was the biggest blizzard in New York City?
NCEI lists the 1947 blizzard, with 26.4 inches in 24 hours at Central Park, as New York City's greatest snowfall until it was surpassed in 2006.
Sources
Reviewed by the Storm Incoming editorial team on October 27, 2026. Follow local emergency officials if their instructions differ.