Where Is the Snow?

Snow lovers have lamented for weeks about this winter’s lack of snow in the Mid-Atlantic Region.  With the exception of a six-day stretch in early January, temperatures have by and large been warmer than average.  Although last winter got off to a warm and snowless start, there was a major shift in the weather pattern in late January.  There has been no such luck this season for winter weather enthusiasts this winter.

Although measurable snow has occurred in the Nation’s Capital in ten of the sixteen Decembers since 2000, there hasn’t been measurable December snow at National Airport since 2013.  The last December that Washington, D.C. had above average snowfall was in 2009.  The first snowfall of last winter did not occur until January 17.  However, that served as a harbinger of what would become the fourth largest snowstorm on record in the Nation’s Capital.

This winter has been completely different as Washingtonians didn’t even see their first inch of snow until January 30.  Through February 5, a scant total of 1.4 inches of snow has fallen in Washington, D.C.  The Nation’s Capital typically sees 8.4 inches between November 1 and January 31.  Only one inch of snow has fallen this winter at Dulles Airport.  That’s compared to an average of 11.3 inches from November through January.  

The 1.4” of snow that occurred at National Airport last month exceeded the 1” that accumulated at Dulles Airport.  That’s unusual given local geography and factors that contribute to Dulles having a higher annual snowfall average than National.  National Airport averages 15.4” of snow in a given winter while Dulles Airport averages 22” based on NOAA’s 30-year average from 1981-2010.  

Prior to this winter, the last time more snow occurred at National Airport than at Dulles in January was in 2010.  Dulles Airport has had more January snow than National Airport 42 times since 1963.  Due to its proximity to the Potomac River and downtown Washington, D.C., National Airport is typically a few degrees warmer than Dulles Airport.  That helps minimize snow accumulations at National compared to Dulles.

The last three winters have featured above average snowfall in the DC Metro Region making the lack of snow so far this winter even more noticeable.  Not since the 1980s have there been three consecutive winters with average or above average snowfall in Washington, D.C.  There’s an old adage in weather forecasting that goes “the trend is your friend.”  So given this winter’s trend, area winter weather enthusiasts desperate for snow could be out of luck.