With as much snow as Minnesota gets, it's only natural to wonder where the snowiest place in the state actually is. The state itself turns into a magical winter wonderland every season, and folks like to know exactly what they're getting into when they move or visit the state come wintertime. Luckily, the NOAA National Climactic Data Center has made it easy to find out. From 1981 to 2010, they tallied the results. It turns out, the snowiest town in Minnesota is Duluth! If you've ever found yourself curious about what Duluth's average snowfall is, or about the town itself, here's a bit of a sneak peek as to what it's like to live in the chilliest, snowiest town in the state. The winter weather in Minnesota makes every season an unexpected thrill!
According to the NOAA, Duluth gets an average of 81 inches of snow per year. That's more than six feet!
This snow is largely attributed to the city's location on Lake Superior, and the area is unsurprisingly known as "the snow belt." While beautiful, the lake is responsible for Duluth's lake-effect snow. Lake-effect snow develops over open water and can affect areas as far as 20 miles inland. It contributes to quite a few snowy days in Minnesota.
Because Duluth is right on the water, it often gets dumped with huge amounts of lake-effect snow!
Though the people of Duluth are well-equipped to handle a large amount of snow, there are still some challenges. Driving - and parking - on the city's many hills can cause problems for those not accustomed to it. The snowiest place in Minnesota can provide quite a challenge for locals and tourists.
That is ... if you're able to drive at all. Every once in a while, a big storm will roll through and put the city at a standstill.
But more often than not, things aren't too dicey for too long. The folks in Minnesota are stalwart folk, and especially those in Duluth.
Depending on the conditions and forecast, plows are out laying salt and sand before a storm ever hits. And after the storm, they're there to make sure everything gets cleaned up.
Really, driving is probably the biggest inconvenience to a snowstorm in Duluth. Otherwise, the city is breathtakingly beautiful.
From the sight of downtown Duluth blanketed in snow...
...to the city's gorgeous parks...
...to the sparkle of Lake Superior under a winter sun...
...the town that gets the most snow in Minnesota is truly breathtaking.
Does it surprise you that the average snowfall in Duluth makes it the snowiest town in Minnesota? Have you ever experienced a winter there? Share your thoughts in the comments below - and don't forget to check out our list of the 16 snowiest cities in Minnesota. If you're feeling up for a bit of a winter adventure, consider this drive for magical winter views from Duluth, Minnesota to the Canadian border.
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