 Biggest
Snowstorms on Record
The biggest unofficial snow (before official records began) was in
January 1772 when 36 inches (3 feet) fell in the Washington - Baltimore
area. It has been called the Washington-Jefferson snowstorm because it was
recorded in both of their diaries.
Top 15 Snowstorms on record in Washington, DC and Baltimore
are -
| |
Washington, DC
(1885-2000) |
|
Baltimore, MD
(1891-2000) |
| 1 |
January 27-28, 1922 ... 28 inches |
1 |
February 15-18, 2003 ... 28.2 inches |
| 2 |
February 11-13, 1899 ... 20.5 inches |
2 |
January 27-29, 1922 ... 26.5 inches |
| 3 |
February 18-19, 1979 ... 18.7 inches |
3 |
February 11-12, 1983 ... 22.8 inches |
| 4 |
January 6-8, 1996 ... 17.1 inches |
4 |
January 7-8, 1996 ... 22.5 inches |
| 5 |
February 15-18, 2003 ... 16.7 inches |
5 |
March 29-30, 1942 ... 22.0 inches |
| 6 |
February 11-12, 1983 ...16.6 inches |
6 |
February 11-14, 1899 ... 21.4 inches |
| 7 |
February 15-16, 1958 ... 14.4 inches |
7 |
February 18-19, 1979 ... 20.0 inches |
| 8 |
February 7, 1936 ... 14.4 inches |
8 |
March 15-18, 1892 ... 16.0 inches |
| 9 |
February 16-18, 1900 ... 14.3 inches |
9 |
February 15-16, 1958 ... 15.5 inches |
| 10 |
January 29-30, 1966 ... 13.8 inches |
10 |
January 25, 2000 ... 14.9 inches |
| 11 |
February 8, 1899 ... 13.7 inches |
11 |
December 11-12, 1960 ... 14.1 inches |
| 12 |
February 2-4, 1886 ... 12.4 inches |
12 |
March 5-7, 1962 ... 13.0 inches |
| 13 |
December 17, 1932 ... 12.0 inches |
13 |
January 22, 1987 ...12.3 inches |
| 14 |
March 27-28, 1891 ... 12.0 inches |
14 |
January 30-31, 1966 ... 12.1 inches |
| 15 |
November 11, 1987 ... 11.5 inches* |
15 |
February 16-18, 1900 ...12.0 inches |
*Also 11.5 inches on March 28-29, 1942, January 29-30, 1930, and December
22-23, 1908
Ice Storms The winter
of 1993-1994 was one of the iciest winters on record. Repeated storms from
January into early March produced between 19 and 23 days of icy
precipitation over the greater metropolitan area. The worst storm struck
on February 10-11, 1994 from Fredericksburg into southern Maryland.
Freezing rain caused a thick glaze of ice across trees, power and phone
lines and roads. Travel was extremely hazardous. Trees and utility lines
fell under the weight of the ice. Some people were left without power and
heat for up to two weeks due to the extent of the damage. This storm
warranted a Presidential Disaster declaration for a swath of devastation
from ice that stretched from Tennessee to Delaware. Damage to Maryland was
estimated at over $20 million.
In February 1998, an ice storm hit Skyline Drive. Up to five inches of
ice acculumated in some areas. So many trees came down that Shenandoah
National Park had to be closed for up to two months to clear the debris!
In January 1999, an ice storm hit the northwest suburbs of Washington, DC.
After a half to three-quarter inch of ice accumulated on trees and wires,
40 mph winds was enough to bring many of them down. Trees fell on cars,
houses, utility lines and roads. About a half a million customers were
without power and 800 pedestrians were reported injured from falls on ice.
Washington Hospital treated 250 patients for storm-related injuries on the
15th. Montgomery County, MD particularly hard. Some people were without
power for a week. 30 school buses slipped off the road.
HJ/DMW
 Last
Updated 12/30/2005
|
weather.gov 
