Canada's Most Extreme Snowfall Records: Province by Province
From 6 meters of snow in a single season in Rogers Pass to Lake Ontario's legendary lake-effect snow machine, Canada holds some of the world's most impressive snowfall records.
Canada: A Nation of Snow Records
Canada is one of the snowiest countries on Earth. With vast mountain ranges, the Great Lakes, and Arctic exposure, different regions of Canada hold extreme snowfall records that would be considered catastrophic in most parts of the world. Yet Canadians adapt, persist, and even embrace their snowy national identity.
British Columbia: Rogers Pass
Rogers Pass in the Selkirk Mountains of BC holds the Canadian record for the greatest snowfall in a single season: an astounding 24.9 meters (82 feet) in 1971-72. The pass averages about 9 meters annually and is home to the world's largest mobile avalanche control program. Up to 10 metres of snow can accumulate on mountain slopes above the pass, requiring constant avalanche management.
Ontario: The Lake Effect Snow Machine
Towns southeast of Lake Ontario — particularly Kingston, Belleville, and the Tug Hill Plateau region (though technically in New York State) — experience intense lake-effect snow when cold Arctic air sweeps over the relatively warm lake water. Snowfall rates of 5 cm per hour and totals of 1 metre or more in a single storm are not unheard of.
Quebec: The Laurentians and Gaspésie
The Chic-Choc Mountains in the Gaspésie region regularly receive over 7 metres of snow annually, with Mount Jacques-Cartier recording some of the province's most extreme snowfall events.
Atlantic Canada: Nor'easter Country
Atlantic Canada is battered by nor'easters that can dump 50-100 cm of snow in 24 hours. St. John's, Newfoundland, frequently records more than 300 cm of snow per season and has experienced single storms depositing over 75 cm.
