Rutgers University Climate Lab

Monthly Snow Area Rankings

All snow cover extents are shown in thousands of square kilometers
* Note: These calculations are based on NH SCE CDR v01r01

Select a Region
Northern Hemisphere	North America	United States
Eurasia	Canada	Alaska

Northern Hemisphere
2021		1981-2010 Normal		Period of Record from 11-1966
Month	Area	Mean	Departure	Rank	Maximum (Year)	Minimum (Year)
5	16,209	19,019	-2,810	53/55	23,093 (1974)	15,377 (2010)
4	28,841	30,215	-1,375	45/55	34,606 (1979)	27,914 (2016)
3	38,609	40,130	-1,520	44/55	44,282 (1985)	37,122 (1990)
2	46,090	45,594	496	22/55	51,320 (1978)	42,667 (1995)
1	46,769	46,866	-96	32/55	50,275 (2008)	41,890 (1981)

2020		1981-2010 Normal		Period of Record from 11-1966
Month	Area	Mean	Departure	Rank	Maximum (Year)	Minimum (Year)
12	43,699	43,981	-282	32/55	46,846 (2012)	37,441 (1980)
11	35,973	33,958	2,014	12/55	38,597 (1993)	28,279 (1979)
10	21,220	17,544	3,676	10/53	25,724 (1976)	12,781 (1988)
9	4,505	5,235	-730	42/52	7,762 (1972)	3,838 (1990)
8	2,292	2,797	-505	50/52	5,308 (1967)	2,089 (1968)
7	2,406	3,665	-1,259	50/51	8,210 (1967)	2,325 (2012)
6	5,961	9,418	-3,457	49/53	14,972 (1978)	4,922 (2012)
5	16,659	19,019	-2,360	49/55	23,093 (1974)	15,377 (2010)
4	29,137	30,215	-1,078	42/55	34,606 (1979)	27,914 (2016)
3	37,714	40,130	-2,416	51/55	44,282 (1985)	37,122 (1990)
2	43,477	45,594	-2,117	53/55	51,320 (1978)	42,667 (1995)
1	46,375	46,866	-490	38/55	50,275 (2008)	41,890 (1981)

2019		1981-2010 Normal		Period of Record from 11-1966
Month	Area	Mean	Departure	Rank	Maximum (Year)	Minimum (Year)
12	43,469	43,981	-512	37/55	46,846 (2012)	37,441 (1980)
11	37,060	33,958	3,102	5/55	38,597 (1993)	28,279 (1979)
10	22,256	17,544	4,712	5/53	25,724 (1976)	12,781 (1988)
9	5,145	5,235	-90	32/52	7,762 (1972)	3,838 (1990)
8	2,508	2,797	-289	41/52	5,308 (1967)	2,089 (1968)
7	2,613	3,665	-1,052	44/51	8,210 (1967)	2,325 (2012)
6	5,936	9,418	-3,481	50/53	14,972 (1978)	4,922 (2012)
5	17,063	19,019	-1,956	44/55	23,093 (1974)	15,377 (2010)
4	29,060	30,215	-1,155	43/55	34,606 (1979)	27,914 (2016)
3	39,480	40,130	-650	37/55	44,282 (1985)	37,122 (1990)
2	46,025	45,594	432	24/55	51,320 (1978)	42,667 (1995)
1	47,239	46,866	374	26/55	50,275 (2008)	41,890 (1981)

2018		1981-2010 Normal		Period of Record from 11-1966
Month	Area	Mean	Departure	Rank	Maximum (Year)	Minimum (Year)
12	44,547	43,981	566	15/55	46,846 (2012)	37,441 (1980)
11	37,774	33,958	3,815	3/55	38,597 (1993)	28,279 (1979)
10	20,058	17,544	2,514	16/53	25,724 (1976)	12,781 (1988)
9	6,365	5,235	1,131	9/52	7,762 (1972)	3,838 (1990)
8	2,733	2,797	-64	27/52	5,308 (1967)	2,089 (1968)
7	3,008	3,665	-658	39/51	8,210 (1967)	2,325 (2012)
6	7,838	9,418	-1,580	41/53	14,972 (1978)	4,922 (2012)
5	18,259	19,019	-760	37/55	23,093 (1974)	15,377 (2010)
4	32,059	30,215	1,844	10/55	34,606 (1979)	27,914 (2016)
3	41,825	40,130	1,696	13/55	44,282 (1985)	37,122 (1990)
2	46,293	45,594	699	19/55	51,320 (1978)	42,667 (1995)
1	46,930	46,866	65	28/55	50,275 (2008)	41,890 (1981)

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Eurasia
2021		1981-2010 Normal		Period of Record from 11-1966
Month	Area	Mean	Departure	Rank	Maximum (Year)	Minimum (Year)
5	7,622	9,723	-2,101	51/55	12,511 (1976)	7,262 (2013)
4	16,485	17,174	-689	40/55	20,687 (1981)	14,767 (2014)
3	23,691	24,492	-801	42/55	27,950 (1981)	20,183 (2002)
2	27,695	28,479	-783	42/55	32,285 (1978)	25,913 (2002)
1	29,115	29,322	-207	36/55	32,265 (2008)	25,823 (1981)

2020		1981-2010 Normal		Period of Record from 11-1966
Month	Area	Mean	Departure	Rank	Maximum (Year)	Minimum (Year)
12	27,203	27,135	69	26/55	29,699 (2002)	22,882 (1980)
11	21,592	20,474	1,119	17/55	24,132 (1993)	16,796 (1979)
10	10,957	9,497	1,459	19/53	17,218 (1976)	5,578 (1988)
9	582	1,526	-944	50/52	3,409 (1977)	540 (1984)
8	72	375	-303	52/52	1,859 (1967)	72 (2020)
7	141	765	-624	50-51/51	3,551 (1967)	141 (tie)
6	1,123	3,609	-2,486	52/53	7,129 (1978)	1,068 (2012)
5	7,574	9,723	-2,149	53/55	12,511 (1976)	7,262 (2013)
4	15,199	17,174	-1,975	53/55	20,687 (1981)	14,767 (2014)
3	22,096	24,492	-2,396	52/55	27,950 (1981)	20,183 (2002)
2	26,761	28,479	-1,718	53/55	32,285 (1978)	25,913 (2002)
1	28,869	29,322	-453	40/55	32,265 (2008)	25,823 (1981)

2019		1981-2010 Normal		Period of Record from 11-1966
Month	Area	Mean	Departure	Rank	Maximum (Year)	Minimum (Year)
12	26,304	27,135	-831	43/55	29,699 (2002)	22,882 (1980)
11	21,974	20,474	1,501	14/55	24,132 (1993)	16,796 (1979)
10	12,768	9,497	3,270	7/53	17,218 (1976)	5,578 (1988)
9	1,574	1,526	48	27/52	3,409 (1977)	540 (1984)
8	158	375	-217	40/52	1,859 (1967)	72 (2020)
7	315	765	-450	38/51	3,551 (1967)	141 (2012)
6	1,742	3,609	-1,867	46/53	7,129 (1978)	1,068 (2012)
5	8,503	9,723	-1,459	46/55	12,511 (1976)	7,262 (2013)
4	16,301	17,174	-873	42/55	20,687 (1981)	14,767 (2014)
3	22,898	24,492	-1,594	48/55	27,950 (1981)	20,183 (2002)
2	27,678	28,479	-801	43/55	32,285 (1978)	25,913 (2002)
1	29,581	29,322	259	25/55	32,265 (2008)	25,823 (1981)

2018		1981-2010 Normal		Period of Record from 11-1966
Month	Area	Mean	Departure	Rank	Maximum (Year)	Minimum (Year)
12	27,594	27,135	460	16/55	29,699 (2002)	22,882 (1980)
11	22,053	20,474	1,580	13/55	24,132 (1993)	16,796 (1979)
10	10,391	9,497	894	24/53	17,218 (1976)	5,578 (1988)
9	1,300	1,526	-226	34/52	3,409 (1977)	540 (1984)
8	141	375	-234	45/52	1,859 (1967)	72 (2020)
7	206	765	-559	42/51	3,551 (1967)	141 (2012)
6	2,532	3,609	-1,512	41/53	7,129 (1978)	1,068 (2012)
5	9,307	9,723	-582	34/55	12,511 (1976)	7,262 (2013)
4	17,257	17,174	83	26/55	20,687 (1981)	14,767 (2014)
3	25,041	24,492	549	22/55	27,950 (1981)	20,183 (2002)
2	28,818	28,479	339	24/55	32,285 (1978)	25,913 (2002)
1	29,338	29,322	15	30/55	32,265 (2008)	25,823 (1981)

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North America
2021		1981-2010 Normal		Period of Record from 11-1966
Month	Area	Mean	Departure	Rank	Maximum (Year)	Minimum (Year)
5	8,586	9,296	-710	45/55	11,478 (1974)	7,798 (2010)
4	12,356	13,041	-686	46/55	15,077 (1975)	11,020 (2010)
3	14,918	15,638	-719	47/55	17,293 (1969)	14,041 (1968)
2	18,394	17,115	1,279	4/55	19,035 (1978)	15,831 (1992)
1	17,654	17,543	111	28/55	18,816 (1985)	16,067 (1981)

2020		1981-2010 Normal		Period of Record from 11-1966
Month	Area	Mean	Departure	Rank	Maximum (Year)	Minimum (Year)
12	16,496	16,846	-351	37/55	18,273 (2009)	14,559 (1980)
11	14,380	13,485	896	13/55	15,720 (2018)	11,483 (1979)
10	10,263	8,047	2,216	1/53	10,263 (2020)	6,364 (1979)
9	3,923	3,709	214	22/52	5,065 (2018)	2,892 (1968)
8	2,220	2,422	-201	42/52	3,855 (1978)	2,007 (1968)
7	2,265	2,900	-635	50/51	5,073 (1978)	2,184 (2012)
6	4,838	5,809	-971	43/53	7,843 (1978)	3,854 (2012)
5	9,084	9,296	-212	28/55	11,478 (1974)	7,798 (2010)
4	13,938	13,041	897	14/55	15,077 (1975)	11,020 (2010)
3	15,618	15,638	-19	32/55	17,293 (1969)	14,041 (1968)
2	16,716	17,115	-399	40/55	19,035 (1978)	15,831 (1992)
1	17,506	17,543	-37	34/55	18,816 (1985)	16,067 (1981)

2019		1981-2010 Normal		Period of Record from 11-1966
Month	Area	Mean	Departure	Rank	Maximum (Year)	Minimum (Year)
12	17,165	16,846	318	18/55	18,273 (2009)	14,559 (1980)
11	15,086	13,485	1,601	3/55	15,720 (2018)	11,483 (1979)
10	9,488	8,047	1,441	4/53	10,263 (2020)	6,364 (1979)
9	3,570	3,709	-138	37/52	5,065 (2018)	2,892 (1968)
8	2,350	2,422	-72	34/52	3,855 (1978)	2,007 (1968)
7	2,298	2,900	-602	47/51	5,073 (1978)	2,184 (2012)
6	4,194	5,809	-1,615	51/53	7,843 (1978)	3,854 (2012)
5	8,560	9,296	-736	48/55	11,478 (1974)	7,798 (2010)
4	12,759	13,041	-283	36/55	15,077 (1975)	11,020 (2010)
3	16,582	15,638	944	9/55	17,293 (1969)	14,041 (1968)
2	18,347	17,115	1,232	5/55	19,035 (1978)	15,831 (1992)
1	17,658	17,543	115	27/55	18,816 (1985)	16,067 (1981)

2018		1981-2010 Normal		Period of Record from 11-1966
Month	Area	Mean	Departure	Rank	Maximum (Year)	Minimum (Year)
12	16,953	16,846	106	22/55	18,273 (2009)	14,559 (1980)
11	15,720	13,485	2,236	1/55	15,720 (2018)	11,483 (1979)
10	9,667	8,047	1,620	3/53	10,263 (2020)	6,364 (1979)
9	5,065	3,709	1,357	1/52	5,065 (2018)	2,892 (1968)
8	2,592	2,422	170	17/52	3,855 (1978)	2,007 (1968)
7	2,801	2,900	-99	29/51	5,073 (1978)	2,184 (2012)
6	5,306	5,809	-503	36/53	7,843 (1978)	3,854 (2012)
5	8,951	9,296	-345	34/55	11,478 (1974)	7,798 (2010)
4	14,803	13,041	1,761	4/55	15,077 (1975)	11,020 (2010)
3	16,784	15,638	1,146	5/55	17,293 (1969)	14,041 (1968)
2	17,475	17,115	360	21/55	19,035 (1978)	15,831 (1992)
1	17,592	17,543	49	32/55	18,816 (1985)	16,067 (1981)

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Canada
2021		1981-2010 Normal		Period of Record from 11-1966
Month	Area	Mean	Departure	Rank	Maximum (Year)	Minimum (Year)
5	5,541	5,905	-364	39/55	7,902 (1974)	4,762 (2010)
4	8,237	8,647	-411	45/55	9,860 (1979)	6,939 (2010)
3	9,856	10,023	-167	46/55	10,368 (1982)	9,486 (1981)
2	10,373	10,279	94	10/55	10,424 (2013)	10,015 (1981)
1	10,282	10,294	-12	40/55	10,424 (1982)	10,060 (1981)

2020		1981-2010 Normal		Period of Record from 11-1966
Month	Area	Mean	Departure	Rank	Maximum (Year)	Minimum (Year)
12	10,209	10,096	113	20/55	10,403 (2016)	9,691 (1980)
11	9,545	8,663	882	7/55	9,978 (2018)	7,254 (1987)
10	6,524	4,774	1,750	3/53	6,708 (2018)	3,488 (1987)
9	1,606	1,395	211	19/52	2,812 (2018)	647 (1968)
8	202	375	-174	45/52	1,569 (1978)	132 (2009)
7	190	772	-582	50/51	2,718 (1978)	143 (2012)
6	2,577	3,258	-681	43/53	4,899 (1978)	1,604 (2012)
5	6,246	5,905	341	17/55	7,902 (1974)	4,762 (2010)
4	9,432	8,647	784	15/55	9,860 (1979)	6,939 (2010)
3	10,208	10,023	185	19/55	10,368 (1982)	9,486 (1981)
2	10,346	10,279	66	20/55	10,424 (2013)	10,015 (1981)
1	10,374	10,294	80	9/55	10,424 (1982)	10,060 (1981)

2019		1981-2010 Normal		Period of Record from 11-1966
Month	Area	Mean	Departure	Rank	Maximum (Year)	Minimum (Year)
12	10,276	10,096	180	12/55	10,403 (2016)	9,691 (1980)
11	9,836	8,663	1,173	3/55	9,978 (2018)	7,254 (1987)
10	5,849	4,774	1,075	8/53	6,708 (2018)	3,488 (1987)
9	1,234	1,395	-161	39/52	2,812 (2018)	647 (1968)
8	321	375	-54	31/52	1,569 (1978)	132 (2009)
7	226	772	-546	49/51	2,718 (1978)	143 (2012)
6	1,933	3,258	-1,326	51/53	4,899 (1978)	1,604 (2012)
5	5,526	5,905	-379	40/55	7,902 (1974)	4,762 (2010)
4	8,364	8,647	-284	40/55	9,860 (1979)	6,939 (2010)
3	10,102	10,023	78	31/55	10,368 (1982)	9,486 (1981)
2	10,390	10,279	111	7/55	10,424 (2013)	10,015 (1981)
1	10,312	10,294	18	29/55	10,424 (1982)	10,060 (1981)

2018		1981-2010 Normal		Period of Record from 11-1966
Month	Area	Mean	Departure	Rank	Maximum (Year)	Minimum (Year)
12	10,263	10,096	167	13/55	10,403 (2016)	9,691 (1980)
11	9,978	8,663	1,315	1/55	9,978 (2018)	7,254 (1987)
10	6,708	4,774	1,934	1/53	6,708 (2018)	3,488 (1987)
9	2,812	1,395	1,417	1/52	2,812 (2018)	647 (1968)
8	424	375	49	22/52	1,569 (1978)	132 (2009)
7	616	772	-156	32/51	2,718 (1978)	143 (2012)
6	2,852	3,258	-407	35/53	4,899 (1978)	1,604 (2012)
5	5,715	5,905	-190	28/55	7,902 (1974)	4,762 (2010)
4	9,745	8,647	1,097	4/55	9,860 (1979)	6,939 (2010)
3	10,312	10,023	289	11/55	10,368 (1982)	9,486 (1981)
2	10,349	10,279	70	19/55	10,424 (2013)	10,015 (1981)
1	10,387	10,294	93	7/55	10,424 (1982)	10,060 (1981)

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Contiguous United States
2021		1981-2010 Normal		Period of Record from 11-1966
Month	Area	Mean	Departure	Rank	Maximum (Year)	Minimum (Year)
5	77	167	-89	38/55	527 (1983)	0 (2004)
4	399	730	-331	48/55	1,602 (1975)	209 (1968)
3	1,305	1,918	-613	49/55	3,209 (1969)	906 (1968)
2	4,208	3,105	1,103	5/55	4,910 (1978)	1,972 (1992)
1	3,611	3,535	76	28/55	4,678 (1985)	2,292 (1981)

2020		1981-2010 Normal		Period of Record from 11-1966
Month	Area	Mean	Departure	Rank	Maximum (Year)	Minimum (Year)
12	2,525	3,061	-536	42/55	4,246 (2009)	1,242 (1980)
11	1,150	1,231	-82	25/55	2,268 (2014)	174 (1999)
10	790	186	604	1/53	790 (2020)	0 (tie)
9	0	8	-8	20-52/52	72 (2019)	0 (tie)
8	0	6	-6	12-52/52	65 (1983)	0 (tie)
7	0	17	-17	24-51/51	84 (1997)	0 (tie)
6	7	55	-48	31/53	268 (1973)	0 (tie)
5	24	167	-143	52/55	527 (1983)	0 (2004)
4	813	730	83	22/55	1,602 (1975)	209 (1968)
3	1,655	1,918	-264	37/55	3,209 (1969)	906 (1968)
2	2,615	3,105	-491	45/55	4,910 (1978)	1,972 (1992)
1	3,383	3,535	-152	35/55	4,678 (1985)	2,292 (1981)

2019		1981-2010 Normal		Period of Record from 11-1966
Month	Area	Mean	Departure	Rank	Maximum (Year)	Minimum (Year)
12	3,202	3,061	141	20/55	4,246 (2009)	1,242 (1980)
11	1,644	1,231	413	11/55	2,268 (2014)	174 (1999)
10	491	186	305	4/53	790 (2020)	0 (tie)
9	72	8	64	1/52	72 (2019)	0 (tie)
8	0	6	-6	12-52/52	65 (1983)	0 (tie)
7	0	17	-17	24-51/51	84 (1997)	0 (tie)
6	7	55	-48	33/53	268 (1973)	0 (tie)
5	48	167	-119	42/55	527 (1983)	0 (2004)
4	784	730	54	23/55	1,602 (1975)	209 (1968)
3	2,750	1,918	832	6/55	3,209 (1969)	906 (1968)
2	4,226	3,105	1,121	4/55	4,910 (1978)	1,972 (1992)
1	3,653	3,535	118	24/55	4,678 (1985)	2,292 (1981)

2018		1981-2010 Normal		Period of Record from 11-1966
Month	Area	Mean	Departure	Rank	Maximum (Year)	Minimum (Year)
12	3,004	3,061	-57	26/55	4,246 (2009)	1,242 (1980)
11	2,153	1,231	921	3/55	2,268 (2014)	174 (1999)
10	177	186	-9	20/53	790 (2020)	0 (tie)
9	0	8	-8	20-52/52	72 (2019)	0 (tie)
8	0	6	-6	12-52/52	65 (1983)	0 (tie)
7	0	17	-17	24-51/51	84 (1997)	0 (tie)
6	0	55	-55	35-53/53	268 (1973)	0 (tie)
5	83	167	-83	37/55	527 (1983)	0 (2004)
4	1,316	730	587	5/55	1,602 (1975)	209 (1968)
3	2,705	1,918	787	7/55	3,209 (1969)	906 (1968)
2	3,363	3,105	258	22/55	4,910 (1978)	1,972 (1992)
1	3,442	3,535	-93	33/55	4,678 (1985)	2,292 (1981)

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Alaska
2021		1981-2010 Normal		Period of Record from 11-1966
Month	Area	Mean	Departure	Rank	Maximum (Year)	Minimum (Year)
5	811	1,033	-223	47/55	1,486 (1985)	595 (2016)
4	1,499	1,423	77	15/55	1,526 (2018)	1,360 (2016)
3	1,534	1,486	49	1-4/55	1,534 (2008)	1,293 (1968)
2	1,534	1,515	20	1-7/55	1,534 (tie)	1,417 (1968)
1	1,534	1,495	39	1-5/55	1,534 (tie)	1,423 (1986)

2020		1981-2010 Normal		Period of Record from 11-1966
Month	Area	Mean	Departure	Rank	Maximum (Year)	Minimum (Year)
12	1,534	1,480	54	1-2/55	1,534 (tie)	1,330 (1967)
11	1,475	1,406	69	7/55	1,500 (tie)	950 (1979)
10	755	889	-134	42/53	1,228 (1971)	348 (1979)
9	140	194	-54	34/52	417 (1996)	35 (1974)
8	0	55	-55	42-52/52	546 (1967)	0 (tie)
7	32	74	-42	41/51	445 (1967)	0 (tie)
6	145	329	-184	48/53	856 (1985)	37 (2015)
5	655	1,033	-378	53/55	1,486 (1985)	595 (2016)
4	1,473	1,423	50	25/55	1,526 (2018)	1,360 (2016)
3	1,534	1,486	49	1-4/55	1,534 (2008)	1,293 (1968)
2	1,534	1,515	20	1-7/55	1,534 (tie)	1,417 (1968)
1	1,528	1,495	33	6/55	1,534 (tie)	1,423 (1986)

2019		1981-2010 Normal		Period of Record from 11-1966
Month	Area	Mean	Departure	Rank	Maximum (Year)	Minimum (Year)
12	1,500	1,480	19	8-25/55	1,534 (tie)	1,330 (1967)
11	1,419	1,406	13	28/55	1,500 (tie)	950 (1979)
10	953	889	64	18/53	1,228 (1971)	348 (1979)
9	106	194	-88	43/52	417 (1996)	35 (1974)
8	0	55	-55	42-52/52	546 (1967)	0 (tie)
7	1	74	-73	48/51	445 (1967)	0 (tie)
6	123	329	-206	51/53	856 (1985)	37 (2015)
5	836	1,033	-198	43/55	1,486 (1985)	595 (2016)
4	1,452	1,423	29	37/55	1,526 (2018)	1,360 (2016)
3	1,513	1,486	27	5/55	1,534 (2008)	1,293 (1968)
2	1,521	1,515	6	28/55	1,534 (tie)	1,417 (1968)
1	1,500	1,495	4	18-39/55	1,534 (tie)	1,423 (1986)

2018		1981-2010 Normal		Period of Record from 11-1966
Month	Area	Mean	Departure	Rank	Maximum (Year)	Minimum (Year)
12	1,500	1,480	19	8-25/55	1,534 (tie)	1,330 (1967)
11	1,403	1,406	-3	35/55	1,500 (tie)	950 (1979)
10	596	889	-293	51/53	1,228 (1971)	348 (1979)
9	82	194	-113	46/52	417 (1996)	35 (1974)
8	52	55	-3	29/52	546 (1967)	0 (tie)
7	41	74	-33	34/51	445 (1967)	0 (tie)
6	305	329	-24	32/53	856 (1985)	37 (2015)
5	987	1,033	-47	33/55	1,486 (1985)	595 (2016)
4	1,526	1,423	104	1/55	1,526 (2018)	1,360 (2016)
3	1,534	1,486	49	1-4/55	1,534 (2008)	1,293 (1968)
2	1,534	1,515	20	1-7/55	1,534 (tie)	1,417 (1968)
1	1,534	1,495	39	1-5/55	1,534 (tie)	1,423 (1986)

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Note: Missing months are July 1968, June-Oct 1969, and July-Sep 1971.