Does it Snow in Minnesota? (When, How Much & How Often in 2023)
Are you planning a visit and are wondering, does it snow in Minnesota?
Many people have heard of the Land of 10,000 Lakes and automatically assume that it’s a snowy, icy winter wonderland all the time.
While it does snow here, it really isn’t as much of a frozen tundra as it’s obtained the reputation for being!
Being located in the northern half of the country makes it easy to understand why our state gets the snow that it does.
I’m a Minnesota native and have lived out my fair share of snowy winters in Minnesota, so I have a lot of expertise on this subject.
In this post, I’m going to share with you everything that you might want to know about snow here in the grand old state of Minnesota.
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📍Tours: I recommend Viator for fun experiences.
Does it Snow in Minnesota?
We can start this post off with the really simple answer of yes. It does in fact snow here in Minnesota, and you may have been able to guess that.
Minnesota has a continental climate, meaning it typically has warm summers and very cold winters, which pretty accurately describes the state.
Because of its location in the Northern United States and being so close to Canada, we can see why it snows here so often.
In fact, many other major cities are also part of this climate, specifically ones that are also found in the Midwest.
How Much Snow Does Minnesota Get a Year?
Minnesota in winter tends to get quite a bit of snow, and it really varies from year to year, as well as by location.
But we can look at a typical year and determine that the average amount of snowfall in Minnesota per year is around 50 inches.
As I said, this can really vary by region, because the beltline along Lake Superior can see closer to 70, while the Twin Cities might see closer to 30 inches.
This snow typically between the months of November and April, but again, this can vary depending on the year.
Certain parts of Minnesota, including Duluth, had their snowiest year in the 2022-2023 winter season!
How Often Does Minnesota Get Snow?
Snowfall typically happens during the months of November and April but sometimes we see it sneak into late October or early May.
During winter, you can expect to see snowfall throughout the week, but there really is no telling how often it will snow in Minnesota.
Sometimes, it doesn’t snow at all for a week, and other times it feels like it snows all 7 days!
The further north you are, say, International Falls, the more days you’ll see snowfall and when you’re more south, there will be fewer days with snow.
Typically, Minneapolis sees about 35-40 days of measurable snow per year, while Duluth sees closer to 60-65 days.
Sometimes, when snow falls that it can’t even be measured, that snowfall doesn’t count in the measurements.
What Months Does it Snow in Minnesota?
We tend to see snow starting in late November or early December and then every month until late April.
Some years, we might see snow coming a little sooner, as I remember Halloweens growing up when it was snowing!
Snow can also sometimes creep into May, but this isn’t super common, and us Minnesotans always hope that this doesn’t happen.
So in all, it usually snows in November, December, January, February, March, and April.
Average Snowfall in Minnesota by Month
Below I’ll do a rundown of the average snowfall that we see every month of winter in Minnesota so you can better understand our winters.
November
The month of November is typically when snow begins to fall and temperatures are starting to drop.
That doesn’t mean that snow will stick around, because typically it’ll snow a few times and then melt quickly before it actually sticks.
In a typical year, November will usually see around 1-4 inches of snow, but this really depends on the year.
There have been years where we didn’t get a good amount of snow until December, and others where we’ve had half a foot of snow!
Unfortunately, the beginning and end of winter can be pretty tough to predict.
December
I like to call December the ‘official’ start of winter since it’s when temperatures really start to get cold and we start to get some actual snow.
During the month of December, you’ll see an average of around 8 inches in the south to 16 inches in the north.
In Duluth, you can sometimes see up to almost 20 inches of snow, and a lot of this comes from the ‘lake effect’ of Lake Superior.
Further south, you’ll see less snow, but there will usually be at least a few days where the plows are out clearing roads.
January
As the snowiest month in Minnesota, it’s not uncommon to see up to 20 inches of snowfall in certain places.
And with all of the already accumulated snow from the previous month, January can become a very long month for a lot of Minnesota residents.
In Duluth, you can see on average about 17 inches of snow, while in the Twin Cities, there might be around 11 inches of snowfall.
You’ll see plows out a lot during January, and it’s one of the months that really contributes to Minnesota’s reputation as a landscape taken over by snow.
February
Another of Minnesota’s snowiest months is February. Ironically, February is the shortest month of the year, but often feels like the longest.
Because of its heavy snowfall and extremely cold temperatures, February feels like it drags on forever for someone who lives here.
On average, February sees about 10 to 15 inches of snow, depending on the region of the state that you’re in.
At this point, the snow is just piling on top of 2-3 months of previous snowfall, so snowbanks are starting to tower over houses.
March
As we finally begin to leave the winter wonderland that is Minnesota and transition into spring, March sees much less snow than the previous months.
While there is typically one final snowstorm during March, it usually doesn’t last for as long as it does in January and February.
You still might see close to 10 inches along Lake Superior’s beltline, but in southern cities, there might be only 4 to 6 inches falling.
April
As the official last month of winter (typically) and the start to spring, April sees the least amount of snow out of every other month.
There are usually only a few inches that will fall, but there might also be a larger snowstorm that takes us all by surprise.
Usually, this snow sticks around for a day or two and then melts quickly.
When Does it Stop Snowing in Minnesota?
So if you’re wondering, does it snow in Minnesota, you now have your answer; a resounding yes!
But, you may also now be wondering when the heck does it stop snowing?! Does it ever?!
I know, us locals wonder the same thing. But, yes, it does in fact stop snowing, typically around early to mid-April.
Snowfall in Minnesota typically takes place from November to April, and rarely goes into May.
Sometimes, you might see a little bit of snow or a storm that melts quickly, but it’s usually too warm by the time May rolls around to keep snow.
When Does Snow Melt in Minnesota?
Now that you know when it snows the most, and when it stops, we can also look at the question of when does snow melt in Minnesota.
The snow usually starts to melt in April when temperatures start to warm up.
Usually, it melts for a few days and then it gets cold again, and we see a very slow melt.
During other years, the snow melts very rapidly and some smaller towns and cities struggle with flooding due to snowmelt.
I know that none of these questions have for-sure answers, but that’s just part of living in a continental climate.
Does it Snow All Year in Minnesota?
No, thankfully, it doesn’t snow year-round in Minnesota, although sometimes it can feel like it does.
Snow in Minnesota usually stops falling by May and doesn’t start again until November, so we have at least a few months without it!
If it snowed year-round, I don’t know that I’d still be living here, if I’m being honest!
What Year Had the Most Snowfall in Minnesota?
There have been a lot of really snowy years in Minnesota, but you may be wondering what the snowiest year ever was.
This statistic varies based on which region of the state you’re in, but here are a few general areas to check out.
According to the National Weather Service, the 2022-2023 season was the snowiest year in history with 140.1 inches of snowfall.
I remember so many people hoping that it would snow just a bit more so we could break that record! Previously, the record was for 135.4 inches in 1995-1996.
As for Minneapolis, the snowiest year was 1983-1984 with 98.6 inches of snow, which was the snowiest year.
What is the Snowiest Month in Minnesota?
The snowiest month in Minnesota is usually a toss-up between January and February.
These two months go at bat for which is going to have the most snow, but both of them typically have an average of around 10-20 inches in certain places.
How Cold Does Minnesota Get in Winter?
Minnesota in winter can be really brutal if I’m honest, so it’s very important to understand the climate here.
During winter, Minnesota often sees temperatures below freezing, and lots of days where the temperatures dip below 0 degrees F.
This is means for hypothermia and frostbite, which can set in very quickly if you’re outside in these frigid temperatures.
Always be sure to dress appropriately, stay inside if its too cold, and be aware of the ‘feels like’ temperature when you’re outside in Minnesota.
FAQs
Winters can be really great in Minnesota if you’re prepared. They’re beautiful and have plenty to do. But if you aren’t prepared, they can be really cold and miserable.
It snows the most in Minnesota in Duluth along Lake Superior.
It’s snowed in Minnesota during every month except July. So yes, it has snowed in Minnesota during the summer.
No, the snowiest state is Alaska. But Minnesota does come in on the list behind a few other states including Vermont, Maine, and New York.
The snowiest part of Minnesota is the beltline along Lake Superior near Duluth.
Snow days do happen in Minnesota, but they aren’t as common as you’d think. Most businesses and schools are good about getting people where they need to be. Most schools only have around 3-5 snow days per school year.
Winters look snowy, icy, cold, and beautiful. With snow-capped trees, Minnesota is beautiful in winter!
Minnesota winters usually last around 6 months, lasting from November until April.
Yes, it snows in Minneapolis, typically between the months of November and April. Minneapolis can see around 50 inches per year.
Wrap-Up: Does it Snow in Minnesota?
Common questions that people ask when visiting new places include things about the weather, so it’s no wonder why people ask, does it snow in Minnesota?
It might not come as a surprise to some people, since the state is well known for its cold, long winters.
So yes indeed, it does snow quite often and quite a lot here in Minnesota. And as a local, I’ve gotten to experience it firsthand!
