Where Has the Highest Amount of Snowfall in the World? Amazing Facts

Which place receives the highest amount of snowfall in the world? Is it somewhere near Antarctica - the world’s coldest continent or somewhere near the Arctic? Surprisingly, the place with the highest annual snowfall in the world is in Asia. Keep reading to find out where it is and explore interesting facts about this special city.

What part of the world gets the most snow? 

Which Place Receives the Highest Amount of Snowfall in the World?

According to AccuWeather (via Insider.com), Aomori City in Japan is considered the snowiest city on the planet, with an average annual snowfall of up to 26 feet (792 centimeters). 

CNN Travel also calls Aomori one of the snowiest cities on Earth, and Tripsavvy.com gives it the first spot in its list of the top 6 snowiest cities in the world.

Aomori is a coastal city located in Aomori prefecture, northern Japan. It sits between the edge of Mutsu Bay and the Hakkōda Mountains. Aomori receives more snowfall than any other place in Japan. 

According to Insider.com, the average snowfall in Sapporo, Japan, the second-snowiest city in the world, is 16 feet, a 10-foot difference from the other city. 

Aomori City in Japan

Weather and Climate in Aomori

Aomori City, one of the cities receiving the highest amount of snowfall in the world, has a cold, humid continental climate. It is characterized by warm, brief summers and cold, long winters with extremely heavy snowfall. 

The average temperature in Aomori is 50.2°F (10.1°C). 

August is the hottest month there, with a temperature of around 74.3°F (23.5°C), while January has the lowest temperature during the whole year, at just 28.2°F (-2.1°C).

Despite receiving a huge amount of snowfall, this coastal city also gets quite a lot of rainfall. The average annual rainfall in Aomori is above 1,285 millimeters, with September and August as the wettest months.

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Aomori has a cold, humid continental climate

As mentioned above, this city receives an average of 26 feet (nearly 800 centimeters) of snowfall yearly. December, January, and February are the snowiest months in Aomori City and have the most average snow days. 

In February 1945, Aomori recorded the highest snowfall ever of 6.83 feet (209 centimeters), but it was not the year with the extremely low temperature. The extremely low temperature of -12°F (-24.7°C) was recorded 14 years earlier.

Aomori receives an average of 26 feet of snowfall every year

What Makes Aomori So Snowy?

The reason mainly lies in this coastal city's unique geographical location. Aomori City is nestled between the shores of Mutsu Bay and the Hakkoda Mountains.

The particularly heavy snow there results from several winds colliding around Aomori City and accelerating cloud formation. Because of the low winter temperatures, heavy precipitation falls as snow rather than rain. 

Let’s move on to the next part of this article to learn other amazing facts about Aomori that you might not know.

► See also: Types of winds on Earth

The beauty of Hirosaki Castle in Aomori in winter

Interesting Facts about Aomori

Not only is Aomori known as one of the cities receiving the highest amount of snowfall in the world, but it also amazes people worldwide with many other fascinating facts:

• This place is so covered on heavily snowy winter days that thick white snow stands several meters high.

• Aomori City is famous for its particularly heavy snow and for producing sake, apples, and seafood.

• During winter, Aomori is a popular tourist destination. People come here to visit the ski resorts.

Aomori is a popular tourist destination

• Some city sidewalks in Aomori are heated to keep them relatively free of ice and snow. 

• Throughout the whole of Aomori Prefecture, there are also a lot of beautiful castles and temples to visit.

Which Country Has the Highest Snowfall in the World?

With 51% of the entire land area blanketed in snow, Japan has the most snowfall worldwide. 

According to the US-based AccuWeather report, Japanese cities are among the top three cities in the world for yearly snowfall in cities with a population of 100,000 or more. They include Aomori, Sapporo, and Toyama.

Japan has the most recorded snowfall on Earth, even in its unpopulated regions. The world record for the thickest snow cover at 1,182 cm in 1927 at Mount Ibuki has stood for over a century.

Japan is the city with the highest snowfall in the world

Remarkably, Japan even has rules specifically designed for places that receive a lot of snowfall. As a result, several snow-related cultures and technologies developed in Japan are noticeable.

Bottom Line

As you can see, Aomori City has many fascinating facts, including its title as the city with the highest amount of snowfall in the world. Keep visiting Goweatherforecast for more interesting weather-related facts!