Significant DC Weather Milestones

January 2019 Snowfall, Bethesda, Maryland

DC Area historians and winter weather enthusiasts alike know that DC’s largest snowstorm was on this date in 1922.  Known as the “Knickerbocker Storm,” a total of 28” fell in the Nation’s Capital.  This storm took its unofficial name from the Knickerbocker Theatre in the Adams Morgan neighborhood.  The theatre had a flat roof and the weight of the snow was too great for it hold.  Consequently, the roof collapsed in the middle of a show and that killed nearly 100 people. 

The only other time a single storm dumped at least 20” of snow was the February 12 – 14, 1899 event that left 20” in the Nation’s Capital.  This January couldn’t be more different with a total of only 0.2” since New Year’s Day.  The 2019-2020 winter season as a whole has had a combined snow total of only 0.6”.  The last time Washington, D.C. got to January 31 with a seasonal total of an inch or less of snow was during the 1997-1998 winter.  Some DC residents may recall that winter had a seasonal total of only 0.1” of snow – tied for DC’s lowest seasonal snow total on record. 

Although January 2020 will finish near the monthly average rainfall total with 2.78”, the fact that so little snow has occurred underscores how warm this month has been.  January 2020 is well-positioned to finish among DC’s Top Ten Warmest January’s.  That follows December 2019 which finished 2.4° warmer than average.  And for a second consecutive year, Washingtonians will have a warmer than average December and January.  However, the right ingredients came together once last winter to produce a significant snowstorm in the Nation’s Capital with 10.3” of snow from January 12 – 14, 2019. 

The most significant weather event this month was the 1.23” of rain that occurred January 25.  That much rain could have translated into approximately a foot of snow had there been a sufficient amount of cold air in place.  There just hasn’t been much cold air this month, with 20 of the first 27 days of January being warmer than average.  Earlier this month DC residents experienced high temperatures in the 70s on consecutive days for the first time in January since 1997.

Although December and January have been significantly warmer than average, NOAA expects near to slightly cooler than average temperatures in February with near average precipitation.  February is DC’s snowiest month of the year and longtime Washingtonians know that appreciable snow can occur well into March.  Consequently, hope shouldn’t be lost on seeing winter weather this season.  The Nation’s Capital averages 15.4” of snow a year.

Warmest January’s in the Nation’s Capital (Source: NOAA)

1.  48° (1950)
2.  46.8° (1932)
3.  43.8° (1937, 1890)
5.  43.6° (1990, 1913)
7.  43.1° (2006)
8.  43.0° (1998)
9.  42.9° (1974)
10.  42.6° (1949, 1933)
12.  42.1° (2017)