Milwaukee's Snowiest November in 50 Years
Milwaukee's Snowiest November in 50 Years
Milwaukee recorded its snowiest November in 50 years, according to data from the National Weather Service. The November snow total at Milwaukee's General Mitchell Airport reached 8.7 inches. General Mitchell Airport is the only location in the Milwaukee area with long-term historical climate data.
Meteorologist Cameron Miller with the National Weather Service in Milwaukee/Sullivan reported the November snow total for Milwaukee. The previous time the city logged nearly as much November snow was in 1975, when the total reached 8.4 inches. The new 8.7-inch total exceeds that earlier November snowfall.
Comparison With Recent Years
National Weather Service data show that recent Novembers in Milwaukee had much lower snowfall. In 2024, Milwaukee recorded 3.1 inches of snow in November. In 2023, the city logged 1.1 inches of November snow.
These recent totals highlight how unusual the 8.7-inch November snowfall is for Milwaukee. The new total is more than double the 2024 November amount and significantly higher than the 2023 figure. The measurements from General Mitchell Airport document the sharp increase in November snow for the city.
Racine and Regional Snow Totals
Other locations near Milwaukee reported even higher November snowfall. Between this Thanksgiving weekend's snowfall and a burst of lake effect snow earlier in the month, Racine logged a total of 15.3 inches for November. Meteorologist Denny VanCleve with the National Weather Service in Milwaukee/Sullivan provided the Racine total.
The combination of the Thanksgiving snowfall and earlier lake effect snow led to a much higher November total in Racine than in Milwaukee. These measurements show that snowfall varied significantly across the region. The National Weather Service data for Milwaukee and Racine provide a clear picture of November snow along the Lake Michigan shoreline.
Place in Milwaukee's Snowfall Records
Miller said this November ranks as about the 13th snowiest November on record for Milwaukee. Historical data from the National Weather Service show that the highest November snowfall for the city occurred in 1895, when Milwaukee recorded 18.4 inches of snow.
Before the 1975 total of 8.4 inches, the next closest November snow total for Milwaukee was in 1947. That year, the city recorded 9 inches of snow in November. These records place the 8.7-inch November snowfall in context within Milwaukee's long-term climate history.