January 9-10, 2011 Heavy Snowfall Event

Analyzed map of snowfall reports received across the Tennessee Valley (click to see a larger image)

How Did This Event Measure Up?

Total Event Snowfall (Huntsville)

The 8.9 inches recorded at the Huntsville International Airport was the third-highest event snowfall on record at Huntsville. The top five events are:

1	New Year's 1963-1964 Event	17.1 inches
2	January 7-8, 1988	9.6 inches
3	January 9-10, 2011	8.9 inches
4	February 15, 1958	8.0 inches
5	January 29-30, 1936	7.5 inches

Total Calendar Day Snowfall (Huntsville)

The 6.5 inches recorded at the airport for January 9, 2011 also ranks as the 5th-highest calendar day snowfall on record at Huntsville. (Note that this doesn't include the 2.4 inches that fall on January 10th.) The top five are:

1	15.7 inches	December 31, 1963
2	8.0 inches	February 15, 1958
3	7.2 inches	January 29, 1966
4	7.1 inches	January 7, 1988
5	6.5 inches	January 9, 2011

Note: the so-called 1993 "Superstorm" of March 12-13 ranks 6th, with 7.2 inches.

Winter Season Snowfall Totals (Huntsville)

The 2010-2011 winter season snowfall totals reached 11.7 inches, which was the third highest total ever recorded.

1	24.1 inches	1963-64
2	14.1 inches	1935-36
3	11.7 inches	2010-11
4	11.2 inches	1917-18
T-5	10.6 inches	1987-88
T-5	10.6 inches	1967-68

Total Event Snowfall (Muscle Shoals)

The 9.0 inches recorded by the cooperative observer at Muscle Shoals tied for the fourth-highest event snowfall on record. The top five events are:

1	New Year's 1963-64 Event	19.5 inches (Actual observations taken from Florence, AL)
2	February 11, 1910	12.0 inches
3	January 18, 1893	10.5 inches
T-4	January 9-10, 2011	9.0 inches
T-4	January 29, 1966	9.0 inches
T-4	February 12-13, 1960	9.0 inches

Winter Season Snowfall Totals (Muscle Shoals)

The 2010-2011 winter season snowfall total reached 12.5 inches. This ranks as the fifth-snowiest winter season on record at Muscle Shoals. The top five are:

1	20.8 inches	1963-64
2	18.5 inches	1967-68
3	16.9 inches	1929-30
4	15.9 inches	1935-40
5	12.5 inches	2010-11