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What is the worst snowstorm in U.S. history?

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The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree....
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica

The Great Blizzard of 1888 is widely believed to be the worst recorded snowstorm in the United States. It pummeled the Atlantic coast of the United States, from the Chesapeake Bay to Maine, on March 11–14, 1888. New York City received some 22 inches (550 mm) of snow. Other areas experienced as much as 50 inches (1,250 mm). Winds gusted up to 80 miles (130 km) per hour, causing snowdrifts as high as 50 feet (15 meters). More than 400 people, including about 100 sailors, were killed.