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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.
Annual snowfall in Madison, Wisconsin
Source: Wisconsin State Climatology Office, Seasonal Snowfall Totals for Madison
| Season | Inches |
| 2011-2012 | 31.8 (unofficial) |
| 2010-2011 | 73 (unofficial) |
| 2009-2010 | 51.6 |
| 2008-2009 | 72.0 |
| 2007-2008 | 101.4 |
| 2006-2007 | 55.1 |
| 2005-2006 | 47.9 |
| 2004-2005 | 43.9 |
| 2003-2004 | 31.6 |
| 2002-2003 | 28.8 |
| 2001-2002 | 31.8 |
| 2000-2001 | 52.2 |
| 1999-2000 | 34.1 |
| 1998-1999 | 38.1 |
| 1997-1998 | 53.9 |
| 1996-1997 | 50.0 |
| 1995-1996 | 60.5 |
| 1994-1995 | 52.8 |
| 1993-1994 | 73.7 |
| 1992-1993 | 71.2 |
| 1991-1992 | 42.5 |
| 1990-1991 | 55.0 |
| 1989-1990 | 34.8 |
| 1988-1989 | 36.2 |
| 1987-1988 | 62.2 |
| 1986-1987 | 34.5 |
| 1985-1986 | 72.4 |
| 1984-1985 | 53.7 |
| 1983-1984 | 42.2 |
| 1982-1983 | 41.4 |
| 1981-1982 | 50.0 |
| 1980-1981 | 26.5 |
| 1979-1980 | 31.0 |
| 1978-1979 | 76.1 |
| 1977-1978 | 56.7 |
| 1976-1977 | 26.3 |
| 1975-1976 | 30.8 |
| 1974-1975 | 60.4 |
| 1973-1974 | 42.9 |
| 1972-1973 | 44.0 |
| 1971-1972 | 50.3 |
| 1970-1971 | 67.4 |
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