Snowy Second Half of Winter?

DC Area snow lovers have good reason to be disappointed so far this winter.  There has been a combined total of only 0.6” of snow since December 1.  That’s well below the seasonal average of 6.2” to this point.  Although DC residents will not see any snow the rest of January, it’s too early to write off the 2019-2020 winter season.

Today is the fourth anniversary of the “Blizzard of 2016.”  Appreciable snowfall can still occur in the Nation’s Capital in February and March.  February is, in fact, DC’s snowiest month of the year, narrowly ahead of January.  Six of DC’s ten largest snowstorms on record have actually occurred in February.

It was only 10 years ago that Washingtonians endured the snowiest winter on record.  A seasonal total of 56.1” of snow occurred during the 2009-2010 winter season.  The signature winter storm of the 2009-2010 season, dubbed “Snowmageddon,” was on February 5-6 with 17.8” at National Airport (later tied by the January 2016 event).  The epic Presidents Day 2003 winter storm left 16.4” (tied by the December 2009 event).  That should help illustrate that significant snow can occur in the Nation’s Capital in February.

There have been only 12 winters in the Nation’s Capital since weather records began in the late 1800s that an inch or less of snow has fallen through January 31.  The number of winters is smaller, however, that DC has gone on to see a respectable amount of snowfall.  Most recently in 1992-1993, only 1” of snow occurred through the end of January, followed by a total of 9.7” of snow in February and March.  Areas north and west of DC saw considerably more snow during the “Superstorm of March 1993.”  However, during the height of the storm, DC transitioned from snow to sleet and that led to a much lower snow total of only 6.6”, compared to 14.1” at Dulles Airport.  

Only a trace of snow – too little to measure – occurred at National Airport through January 31, 1960.  However, the 1959-1960 winter finished with 24.3” of snow making it a snowier than average season.  That was largely the result of DC’s second snowiest March on record with 17.1”.  The 1913-1914 winter was very similar in the Nation’s Capital with only a trace of snow through January 31.  That winter season still finished with 28.6” of snow.  That’s because DC had 19.3” of snow in March 1914, making it DC’s snowiest March on record.

Not only is February DC’s snowiest month of the winter in an average year, but March has been DC’s snowiest month of the year four times in the last decade, most recently in 2018.  Consequently, as NOAA expects a near to colder than average February for the DC Metro Area, winter weather enthusiasts shouldn’t give up hope for this winter as the end of January approaches.

DC Winters </=1” of Snow has Occurred through January 31  (Source: NWS)

1.  0.1” (1997-1998)
2.  1” (1992-1993)
3.  0.5” (1975-1976)
4.  T  (1972-1973)
5.  0.2” (1968-1969)
6.  T (1959-1960)
7.  0.3” (1949-1950)
8.  1” (1931-1932)
9.  0.5” (1928-1929)
10.  0.5” (1918-1919)
11.  T (1913-1914)
12.  T (1889-1890)

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DC’s Ten Least Snowy Winters on Record

1.  0.1” (1997-1998, 1972-1973)
3.  2.0” (2011-2012)
4.  2.2” (1975-1976)
5.  2.5” (1930-1931)
6.  3.1” (2012-2013)
7.  3.2” (2001-2002)
8.  3.3” (1918-1919)
9.  3.4” (2016-2017, 1949-1950)