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Jump to table: Annual Snowfall in Madison by Year

Record snows in Wisconsin

Record snowfall in 24-hour period-Wisconsin: 26 inches in Neillsville, Clark County, in December 27-28, 1904

Snowiest single day-Madison: 17.3 inches on December 3, 1990.

Record snowfall for one month-Wisconsin: 82 inches in November 1991, Brule (Douglas County)

Record snowfall for one month-Madison: 37 inches during February 1994.

Record seasonal snowfall-Wisconsin: Hurley with 277.7 inches of snow in the winter of 1996-97.

Record season snowfall-Madison: 101.4 inches during the winter of 2007-2008. (About 114 inches fell on Madison during the 1880-1881 winter, but that number is unofficial).

Record for longest lasting blizzard-Wisconsin: January 28-30, 1947 in southern Wisconsin, 18 to 27 inches of snow, 35-45 mph winds with gusts to 60 mph, 10 to 20 foot drifts.

Earliest recorded snowfall in Madison was a half-inch on Oct. 6, 1964. The earliest trace of snow in Madison was on Sept. 28, 1928.

Some notable snowstorms

March 2-4, 1881: Although this blizzard happened before official record-keeping began, it is thought to be the worst snowstorm ever to hit Madison. Over a three day period, 28 1/2 inches of snow fell in the city.

Feb. 4-5, 1924: Heavy snow and gusty winds in southern Wisconsin. Milwaukee receives 20.3 inches in 24 hours.

Nov. 11-12, 1940: Armistice Day blizzard. Heavy snow with winds of 50 to 80 mph causing 10 to 20 foot drifts. Thirteen deaths in Wisconsin.

Jan. 28-30, 1947: Longest lasting blizzard on record in southern Wisconsin, 18-27 inches of snow, 10 to 15 foot drifts.

April 8-9, 1973: South half of the state, 10 to 20 inches of heavy, wet snow with Madison receiving 12.9 inches. Many roads are closed for two days.

Nov. 9-10, 1975: Northern Wisconsin, 10 to 14 inches of snow, wind gust in excess of 50 mph, hurricane force winds over Lake Superior, Edmund Fitzgerald sinks.

Jan. 25-27, 1978: Southeastern Wisconsin, one to two feet of snow with drifts up to 15 feet.

Nov. 30 -Dec. 2, 1985: Widespread storm over most of state, 10 to 18 inches of snow.

Dec. 2-3, 1990: Southern half of the state receives 10 to 20 inches of snow, Madison has 17.3 inches (most recorded in a 24 hour period).

Dec. 14-15, 1987: Southern half of the state receives up to 17 inches of snow with Madison being hit with 13.2 inches.

Jan. 25-27, 1996: South central and southeastern Wisconsin, Madison records 8 inches in less than 2 hours with a total of 13.4 inches overall.

March 13-14, 1997: Northern two-thirds of the state receive 12 to 28 inches of snow.

Jan. 2, 1999: Southern and eastern Wisconsin receive up to 20 inches of snow along with wind gusts of 45 mph to 63 mph.

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