Philadelphia Historical Snowfall Data:

[ncforecaster89]

Hi Everyone,

I’m in the exhaustive and tedious process of compiling and tabulating  historical/climatological “snowfall” data for numerous U.S. eastern cities.  This is the first one I’ve completed thus far, and thought you might find it as interesting as I do, myself.  
 

Here’s to hoping you can add to the following listing of the “top ten greatest individual snowstorms” before this particular season comes to a conclusion.  
 

1) Philadelphia, PA:

A) Latest 30 year seasonal snowfall average:

1994-2023: 23.0” (689.1”)

 Average seasonal snowfall for full period of record:

1885-2023: 22.8” (3163.4”)

C) Top ten snowiest seasons:

2009-2010: 78.7”

2013-2014: 68.0”

1995-1996: 65.5”

1898-1899: 55.4”

1977-1978: 54.9”

1960-1961: 49.1”

2002-2003: 46.3”

1917-1918: 44.9”

1966-1967: 44.3”

1981-1982: 43.9”

D) Top five least snowiest seasons:

1972-1973: Trace

2022-2023: 0.3”

2019-2020: 0.3”

1997-1998: 0.8”

1949-1950: 2.0”

E) Top ten greatest individual snowstorms:

1. 31.0” (Jan. 6-8, 1996)

2. 28.5” (Feb. 5-6, 2010)

3. 23.2” (Dec. 19-20, 2009)

4. 22.4” (Jan. 23-24, 2016)

5. 21.2” (Feb. 11-12, 1983)

6. 21.0” (Dec. 25-26, 1909)

7. 19.4” (April 3-4, 1915)

8. 18.9” (Feb. 12-14, 1899)

9. 18.7” (Feb. 16-17, 2003)

10. 16.7” (Jan. 22-24, 1935)

[snowwors2]

Nice & interesting work…

I'm blessed to have been alive for 8 of the top 10 snowiest seasons…Thank you for your work and for sharing‼️

[ncforecaster89]

1 hour ago, snowwors2 said:

Nice & interesting work…

I'm blessed to have been alive for 8 of the top 10 snowiest seasons…Thank you for your work and for sharing‼️

That’s amazing that you have experienced, firsthand, the vast majority of the greatest seasons of snowfall in the Philadelphia region.   Thank you for the kind words as well. 

[Hurricane Agnes]

Thanks for posting! I was here for 7 of the 10 (missed #6 by a couple weeks because I was 2 weeks late being born according to my mom ). I still laugh with one of my sisters about the '66 blizzard when we had our snowsuits and Yogi Bear snow boots, with shovels ready to dig out the area in front of the garage at our first house.  

The summer of '66 was a hot one as a note (at least for back then - hit 104 at one point which I think still stands as the 2nd highest ever recorded in Philly to date).  My mom was pregnant with my little sister at the time.

[ChescoWx]

Great list Thank You! Below is some similar information for the Western Suburban County of Philly - Chester County   Top 20 Least and Most Snowfall Seasons and top 20 all-time individual snowstorms. Last 30 year average snowfall for the County has been 36.3"

[Birds~69]

On 2/9/2024 at 11:42 PM, snowwors2 said:

Nice & interesting work…

I'm blessed to have been alive for 8 of the top 10 snowiest seasons…Thank you for your work and for sharing‼️

Overall 6/10 for myself...but all of the top 5.

46F/cloudy

[RedSky]

43 minutes ago, Birds~69 said:

Overall 6/10 for myself...but all of the top 5.

46F/cloudy

We saw the 6 out of 10 of the best winters and should be happy with that. Now we have a long wait and need to cryogenically freeze ourselves for thousands of years until the next ice age.

 

[snowwors2]

2 hours ago, Birds~69 said:

Overall 6/10 for myself...but all of the top 5.

46F/cloudy

If so, you’re a VERY old man⁉️

 

2009-2010: 78.7” 

2013-2014: 68.0”

1995-1996: 65.5” 

1898-1899: 55.4” 

1977-1978: 54.9”

[Birds~69]

6 minutes ago, snowwors2 said:

If so, you’re a VERY old man⁉️

 

 

2009-2010: 78.7” 

2013-2014: 68.0”

1995-1996: 65.5” 

1898-1899: 55.4” 

1977-1978: 54.9”

You misunderstood.

E) Top ten greatest individual snowstorms:

1. 31.0” (Jan. 6-8, 1996)

2. 28.5” (Feb. 5-6, 2010)

3. 23.2” (Dec. 19-20, 2009)

4. 22.4” (Jan. 23-24, 2016)

5. 21.2” (Feb. 11-12, 1983)

.....and number 9. 18.7” (Feb. 16-17, 2003) would be my 6th.

[snowwors2]

Gotcha…

Like you, I’m batting .600 in that category‼️

[Mikeymac5306]

Batting .600 as well. Nice bit of info!

[Violentweatherfan]

16 hours ago, Birds~69 said:

You misunderstood.

E) Top ten greatest individual snowstorms:

1. 31.0” (Jan. 6-8, 1996)

2. 28.5” (Feb. 5-6, 2010)

3. 23.2” (Dec. 19-20, 2009)

4. 22.4” (Jan. 23-24, 2016)

5. 21.2” (Feb. 11-12, 1983)

.....and number 9. 18.7” (Feb. 16-17, 2003) would be my 6th.

March 13, 1993 should be included as well. Snow accumulation wasn’t as great but for intensity it was.

[PhiEaglesfan712]

The last season in the Top 10 snowiest seasons is incorrect. It should be 2010-2011, which finished with 44.0 inches.

PHL_MONTHLY-31.xls

[TheClimateChanger]

3 hours ago, PhiEaglesfan712 said:

The last season in the Top 10 snowiest seasons is incorrect. It should be 2010-2011, which finished with 44.0 inches.

PHL_MONTHLY-31.xls 276.5 kB · 0 downloads

Agreed. Also, 1949-1950 was officially observed as 1.9", even though it's now given as 2.0". There was a trace of snow reported on March 2nd, but it's been changed after the fact to 0.1". Obviously, today, that would be a measurable snow on an official measuring board [0.01" of precipitation with temperatures at or below 31F all day], but at the time it was reported as a trace. I'm sure there are plenty of days like this in the official records, suggesting an undercount in earlier years.

[ChescoWx]