Clevelanders are accustomed to snowy winters, but experiencing 10 inches or more of snowfall in a 24-hour period is a rare event in the city’s history.
Based on historical snowfall data from the NWS, such significant snowfall occurrences have only occurred seven times since 1893, translating to a roughly 5.3% likelihood in any given year.
The most recent such event was recorded on January 18, 2022, when 9.4 inches blanketed the city.
Reviewing snowfall records spanning from 1893 to 2024, Cleveland’s average daily snowfall record sits at around 3.22 inches, underscoring the rarity of 10″ snow days in the larger historical context. The highest daily snowfall recorded was on November 10, 1913, with an impressive 17.4 inches, a record that remains unmatched even after more than a century.
Historically, February stands out as the month with the most instances of 10″ or more snowfall days, including the impressive 13.6 inches recorded on February 23, 1993. January also contributes multiple days with double-digit snowfall. January – March is peak period for extreme snow events in Cleveland.
As we are nearing the midpoint of winter season, history shows that while significant snowfalls are rare, they are not unprecedented.
