The 25 snowiest cities in the 'Lower 48'

A Coeur d'Alene Press subscriber, Myra Martin, asked if Coeur d'Alene, with a 118-year average of 69.8 inches of snow, ranks in the 'top 25' cities for annual snowfall.

My answer is that we are approximately the 55th snowiest city in the 'Lower 48,' excluding Alaska, in total seasonal snowfall. But, I should mention that we were the sixth snowiest place with a population of more than 15,000 people during the snowiest season locally in town since at least 1895 in 2007-08, when we gauged an incredible 172.9 inches on Player Drive in the northwestern corner of Coeur d'Alene. If you'll remember, many buildings collapsed that harsh winter from the sheer weight of many tons of snow. I had to have my roof shoveled off twice in early to mid January of 2008.

I'm not including Alaska due to the fact that some stations in the past few very snowy years have measured upwards of 600 inches of the white stuff. The higher elevations in Alaska boast of the heaviest snowfalls on the entire planet!

I'm going to list the 25 snowiest cities with a population of 15,000 people or more for the 'Lower 48.' Here they are:

1. Truckee, Calif.: 203.4 inches.

2. Marquette, Mich. (airport): 179.8 inches.

3. Steamboat Springs, Colo.: 173.3 inches.

4. Oswego, N.Y.: 153.3 inches.

5. Sault Ste. Marie, Mich.: 131.2 inches.

6. Syracuse, N.Y. (city): 120.2 inches.

7. Marquette, Mich. (city): 118.2 inches

8. Meadville, Pa.: 111.2 inches.

9. Flagstaff, Ariz.: 111.9 inches.

10. Watertown, N.Y.: 110.8 inches.

11. Muskegon, Mich.: 105.9 inches.

12. Rochester, N.Y.: 99.5 inches.

13. Utica, N.Y.: 98.5 inches.

14. Auburn, N.Y.: 96.9 inches.

15. Traverse City, Mich.: 96.8 inches.

16. Buffalo, N.Y.: 95.7 inches.

17. Presque Isle, Maine: 93.2 inches.

18. Cortland, N.Y.: 91.3 inches.

19. Jamestown, N.Y.: 91.2 inches.

20. Grand Rapids, Mich.: 89.6 inches.

21. Casper, Wyo.: 85.6 inches.

22. Erie, Pa.: 84.7 inches.

23. Duluth, Minn.: 83.3 inches.

24. St. Cloud, Minn.: 82.9 inches.

25. Berlin, N.H.: 82.6 inches.

26. Burlington, Vt.: 81.6 inches.

I added Burlington, Vt., where Sharon and I lived for nearly a decade, because I listed Marquette, Mich., twice in the list (city and airport) of the snowiest U.S. cities (the 'Lower 48.')

By the way, in a recent 'Gems' article written this July 1, I did not list any wet cities in Alaska or Hawaii, just the 'Lower 48.'

The wettest spot in the entire U.S., including Hawaii, is not Hilo, Hawaii, but Mount Wailaeale, Hawaii, on the island of Kauai, which receives an annual rainfall of 460 inches. It is the wettest spot in the entire world.

Next week: I'll list the snowiest places in each of the 50 states, including Alaska and Hawaii.

NORTH IDAHO WEATHER REVIEW AND LONG-RANGE OUTLOOKS

Our summer of 2013 is progressing nicely weatherwise and otherwise. Thus far, we've had lots of sunshine with a few scattered thunderstorms thrown into the meteorological mix for variety like the brief cloudburst that we saw last Monday afternoon of .35 inches of rain.

We don't see much in the way of significant storm activity until at least late September or early October due to a large stationary ridge of high pressure that will camp over the Inland Northwest for approximately 10 to 12 weeks. Total precipitation will be less than usual despite the occasional hit-and-run thunderstorms.

We've already had a half-dozen hot 'Sholeh Days' this summer at or above 90 degrees and a couple of afternoons that flirted with the century mark. It's quite possible that we will see our first triple-digit afternoon sometime later this July or August since the 100-degree reading that I observed on Player Drive nearly four years ago on Aug. 20, 2009, shortly before the annual North Idaho Fair and Rodeo.

Speaking of this year's edition of the popular fair, I still envision nice weather, mostly sunny, but not too awfully hot. The fair remains my favorite outdoor (and indoor) event of the year in Camelot, almost like 'Christmas in August.'

Have a GREAT SUMMER!

Cliff Harris is a climatologist who writes a weekly column for The Press. His opinions are his own. Email sfharris@roadrunner.com