[Objective] To reveal the probability of snow flow in the three northwestern provinces(Xinjiang, Inner Mongolia and Gansu), in order to provide a theoretical basis for disaster prevention and control of snowstorm disasters.[Methods] We used the ground meteorological data from 130 district stations from 1981 to 2010, to classify the probability level of snow flow.[Results] ①In the study area, 65.4% of the regions have the probability for snowstorm disaster, of which 16.9% had a higher level probability for snowstorm disaster. ② The most severe months of snowstorm disaster were March and December, and few areas were affected by terrain. ③ The meteorological data of the study area fluctuated within a certain period during the past 30 years, but the probability of snowstorm disasters was not decreased.[Conclusion] The three provinces in Northwest China should pay attention to the prevention and control of snowstorm disasters, especially in March and December. Meanwhile, ecological restoration should be strengthened to reduce the snowstorm disasters.