All 50 States Have Seen Snow This Season

The United States has one of the most diverse climates in the world. It has forests, beaches, deserts, plains, and mountains.  This allows the population to experience an array of different landscapes and weather conditions.

However, despite the incredible diversity and differences in longitude and latitude of the country, and the fact that only 37 of the 50 states have operating ski areas, remarkably all 50 states have seen snowfall this season. This isn’t unheard of as it is winter and it has happened before. The hardest state to get snowfall is Florida, which saw flakes on January 17, in the town of Milton, after the recent winter storm Heather.

One state that many also think is rare to get snow is Hawaii. However, the Big Island’s volcanic summits of Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa are over 13,000 feet in elevation and receive measurable snowfall nearly every year, including December of 2023.

Although it is not uncommon for all states to receive snowfall in a season, having snow on the ground in all 50 states at the same time is very uncommon. It is also challenging to measure. However, it was achieved back in February 2010.

Additionally, as of January 20, 55% of the continental U.S. had accumulated snow on the ground. This was an increase from only 15% a month earlier. This was captured by NOAA satellites via high-resolution imagery acquired during an afternoon overpass.

There is something special about snow and we can be happy that every state in our nation has experienced it this season. This widespread event has brought a taste of winter for everyone and while it has already melted in some areas, other places are anxiously awaiting more.