... History of Big Winter Storms ...

Winter storms are labeled "deceptive killers" because most deaths are indirectly related to the storm. About 70% of deaths occur in traffic accidents on icy roads. The rest are often attributed to heart attacks from overexertion, or prolonged exposure to the cold. By being prepared, and taking extra caution during the winter, deaths can be prevented.

Noreasters.....

The most powerful storms to impact the Mid Atlantic Region in winter are "Nor'easters." Tracking along the coast, these storms cause strong northeast winds which create wind and water damage sometimes similar to category one hurricanes. The strong winds drive large waves onshore, eroding beaches and flooding shorelines. Cold high pressure is usually centered over Quebec or northern New England, providing a rich source of cold, dry air into the Mid Atlantic states. Heavy snowfall, sleet, and wind seriously hamper travel, and cause power outages. 

Forecasting these storms and what weather the region will receive can be difficult. The heaviest snow generally occurs in a band around 50 miles wide. To the east of that heavy snow, it changes to a mixture of ice and then rain. To the west of the band, snowfall amounts are significantly less. That means that by just moving the center of the storm 50 miles to the east or west will completely change the type and severity of the weather received.

Historical Big Snowstorms in Washington, DC............

The biggest unofficial snow (before official records began) was in January 1772 when as much as 36 inches (3 feet) may have fallen in the Washington DC-Baltimore area. It has been called the Washington-Jefferson snowstorm because it was recorded in both of their diaries.

Average annual snowfall (1971-2000)

            DC                              Baltimore                                Dulles

            15.2"                           18.2"                                       21.2"

Frequencies of snowfall (amounts vs. occurrences per year)

            DC                              Baltimore                                Dulles

≥ 1"      4.6 times                     5 times                                     5.1 times

≥ 2"     2.8 times                      3.3 times                                  3.4 times

≥ 4"     1.2 times                      1.4 times                                  1.7 times

≥ 6"     0.5 times (1 in 2)         0.6 times                                  0.7 times

 ≥ 8"    0.3 times (1 in 3)         0.3 times                                  0.4 times

≥ 10"    0.1 times (1 in 10)      0.2 times                                  0.2 times

Number of ≥  12" snowstorms

            DC (since 1870)          Baltimore (since 1870)            Dulles (since 1962)

            13 times                       20 times                                   7 times

Dulles:  ≥ 14" has an occurrence of 1 in 9.

In the greater DC area there were NO  ≥ 8" snowfalls between 1900-08, '09-17, '42-57, '67-78, and '88-95.

DC has reported one ≥  24" snowfall in its history - the "Knickerbocker Storm" of Jan 27-28, 1922. During this storm the weight of the snow caused the roof of the Knickerbocker Theater in DC to collapse, killing 98 people and injuring 133.

The greatest three day snowfalls on record: (*NOTE* Data are unofficial. Please contact the National Climatic Data Center for official data)

Links to daily weather maps of those heavy snow events:

Feb. 1899

Jan. 1922

Feb. 1936

March 1942

Feb. 1958

Jan. 1966

Feb. 1979

Feb. 1983

Jan. 1996

Feb. 2003

Snowiest month ever

DC                                          Baltimore                                Dulles

35.2" Feb 1899                       40.5" Feb 2003                       34.9" Feb 2003

Least annual snowfalls on record

DC                                          Baltimore                                Dulles

.1" 1972-73, 1997-98              .7" 1949/50                            2.2" 1972/73

Earliest recorded measurable snowfall

DC                                          Baltimore                                Dulles

.3" Oct 10, 1979                     .3" Oct 10, 1979                     1.3" Oct 10, 1979

Latest measurable snowfall

.5" April 28, 1898                   .1" April 28, 1898                   1.0" April 12, 1973

Ice Storms ...................

Because of the warm waters of the Gulf Stream just off our eastern shore, it is typical for the rain-snow line to right across Baltimore and Washington. When a storm strikes, southeast of the city often sees rain or a mixture of snow and ice turning to rain and areas to the northwest of the city typically gets more snow, sometimes mixing with ice (sleet and freezing rain). A total ice storm, however, is much less common. February 1994 proved that this region can get big ice storms. Ice storms are more likely to happen in January or February than in December or March. An essential component of an ice storm is for sub freezing air to be trapped at the surface, and this is more common during mid winter.

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 greater metropolitan area. The worst storm struck on February 10-11, 1994 just 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 accumulated. So many trees came down that Shenandoah National Park had to be closed for up to two months to clear the debris!

Last sub zero days

DC                                          Baltimore                                Dulles

-4   1/19/1994                          -1   2/5/1996                            -9   2/6/1996*

                                                                                                *Dulles reached zero on 1/17/2009

Sub zero temperatures are relatively rare in the Baltimore-Washington area.

From 1960-2009 Washington DC had temperatures below zero four times.

                             Baltimore had below zero temperatures twenty times

From 1962-2009 Dulles Airport had below zero temperatures fifty-four times, although none since 1996