Barnstable County, Massachusetts Snow Totals
Snowfall Map
Date: Nov 4, 12:00 AM - Today, 12:00 AM.
Highest reported snowfall: 7 inches.
See how much snow fell around Barnstable over the last 6, 24, 48, and 72 hours, from the National Water Center's National Gridded Snowfall Analysis. The analysis combines snowfall reports, high-resolution weather models, precipitation estimates, and temperature data. Drag the marker to see the snowfall at any other point.
Station Readings
These are the snow reports nearest Barnstable for the selected date, collected by the National Weather Service's National Operational Hydrologic Remote Sensing Center from weather observers and automated stations. New snowfall and snow depth readings arrive throughout the day, usually within 24 hours of the observation.
Current Snow Depth
See how much snow is on the ground around Barnstable today, from the daily SNODAS snow analysis. Drag the marker to see the snow depth anywhere in the United States. In an average year, Barnstable has snow on the ground on about 16 days.
Seasonal Snowfall Map
See all the snow that has fallen around Barnstable this season, since September 30. The season total is updated every 12 hours from the National Gridded Snowfall Analysis. Drag the marker to see the season total anywhere in the United States. A full season in Barnstable brings about 22 inches on average.
Average Snowfall in Barnstable
Average Snowfall by Month
| Month | Average snowfall |
|---|---|
| October | 0 in |
| November | 0 in |
| December | 2.1 in |
| January | 9.5 in |
| February | 6.3 in |
| March | 3.6 in |
| April | 0 in |
| May | 0 in |
Barnstable gets about 22 inches of snow in an average year. Most of it falls from December through March, and January is the snowiest month, averaging 10 inches. In a typical winter, 5 days bring an inch or more of new snow, and snow covers the ground on about 16 days.
Averages are the NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals for the nearest weather station, Hyannis, MA, 10 miles S at an elevation of 60 feet.
County Snowfall Records
Barnstable County, Massachusetts
These readings are the most snow ever recorded in one, two, and three days at weather stations in Barnstable County.
The 1-day snowfall record for Barnstable County, Massachusetts is 24 inches on 1/30/2022, reported 21.7 miles away. The most snowfall in a 2-day period is 37 inches on 2/16/2015, and the most snowfall in a 3-day period is 37 inches on 2/16/2015.
Snow Totals for Towns in Barnstable County
About Barnstable County, Massachusetts
Barnstable County is a county in the U.S. state of Massachusetts. At the 2020 census, the population was 228,996. The county seat is Barnstable. The county consists of Cape Cod and associated islands. Barnstable County was formed within the Plymouth Colony on June 2, 1685, including the towns of Falmouth, Sandwich, and others to the east and north on Cape Cod. Plymouth Colony was merged into the Province of Massachusetts Bay in 1691.
Snowfall in the last 24 hours near you
Most weather websites forecast snow well. After a storm, it is often difficult to find out how much snow actually fell. This page collects the measured snow totals for your location in one place.
The data comes from the National Weather Service and its National Operational Hydrologic Remote Sensing Center (NOHRSC), and from NOAA climate records. Coverage is for the United States.
How to find snow totals near you
- Allow location access when your browser asks. The page then shows the snow totals for your current location.
- To see a different location, type a city, address, or ZIP code in the search box.
- To see a past storm, select a date above the station readings.
- To check a different point, drag the marker on a map.
You can also find a city in the snow totals atlas. The atlas lists cities in each state.
What this page shows
Snowfall map. This map shows how much new snow fell in the last 6, 24, 48, and 72 hours. The data comes from the NOHRSC National Snowfall Analysis. This analysis combines snowfall reports, precipitation estimates, temperature data, and weather models into one map.
Station readings. These are measurements from weather observers and stations near you. Each reading shows the new snowfall and its time period, the snow depth, the distance and direction to the station, and the time of the observation. Most readings arrive within 24 hours of the observation.
Current snow depth. This map shows how much snow is on the ground now. The data comes from SNODAS, a daily model from NOHRSC that combines satellite, aircraft, and ground observations.
Seasonal snowfall. This map shows all the snow that has fallen since September 30. It updates every 12 hours.
County snowfall records. These are the largest 1-day, 2-day, and 3-day snowfalls on record at stations in your county. The records come from the NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information.
Snowfall and snow depth are different
Snowfall is the new snow that falls during a period of time, such as 24 hours. It does not include old snow on the ground.
Snow depth is the total snow on the ground at the time of the measurement. It includes old snow and new snow.
After a storm, snow depth is usually less than the total snowfall. Snow compacts under its own weight, and some snow melts or turns to vapor. For example, three days of 6-inch snowfalls can give a snow depth of only 12 inches.
Snow water equivalent is the depth of water that you get if the snow melts. On average, 10 inches of snow melts to approximately 1 inch of water. This ratio changes with each storm. For wet, heavy snow, the ratio can be 5 to 1. For dry, light snow, it can be 20 to 1 or more.
How snow is measured
Weather observers use a flat white board, called a snowboard, that they put on the ground before a storm. To measure new snowfall, an observer:
- Puts a ruler straight down into the snow on the board.
- Reads the depth to the nearest tenth of an inch.
- Clears the board and puts it back on the snow surface.
Observers measure on the board no more than four times in 24 hours, for example every 6 hours. The 24-hour snowfall is the sum of these measurements. If an observer measures less often, the snow compacts more before the measurement, and the total is less.
Snow depth is measured once each day in an open area, to the nearest whole inch. An amount of snow that is too small to measure is a trace.
Why snow totals can be different
Two snow totals for the same storm can be different, and both can be correct.
- Location. Snowfall can change much over short distances, especially near hills, mountains, and large lakes. Lake-effect snow can give 2 feet in one town and 2 inches in the next.
- Elevation. Higher areas often get more snow because the air is colder there.
- Time of the observation. Many observers report at 7 a.m. A storm that starts in the evening can be divided between two days.
- How often the snow is measured. Measurements every 6 hours give a higher total than one measurement at the end of a storm.
- Wind. Wind moves snow into drifts. Observers measure in several places and use the average, but drifts can make one reading too high or too low.
The snowfall map estimates the snow between stations. Use it to see the pattern of a storm. Use the station readings to see the measured values nearest to you.
When the data updates
- Snowfall map (6 to 72 hours): Several times per day
- Station readings: Throughout the day, usually within 24 hours of the observation
- Current snow depth: Daily
- Seasonal snowfall: Every 12 hours
Snow totals by city
The snow totals atlas lists cities in every state in the United States. Select a city to see its recent snowfall, station readings, and snow depth. For rain, see rain totals.