Remembering an Epic DC Snow Storm

It’s hard to believe, but 10 years have passed since one of DC’s most significant snow events.  Shortly after the December 2009 storm (that still ranks as DC’s eighth largest), Washingtonians experienced an even larger storm on February 5-6, 2010.  That’s when 17.8” accumulated at National Airport that made it DC’s fourth largest winter storm on record, and largest since the February 1979 storm.  Snow totals of 2’ to 3’ were common north and west of town.

Unfortunately, widespread power outages ensued then and virtually the entire DC Metro Area was shut down for a week or more.  “Snowmageddon” was later tied by the January 2016 blizzard for fourth largest in the Nation’s Capital.  However, the epic winter storm a decade ago was the signature storm in what became DC’s snowiest winter on record.

Six of DC’s 10 largest snow events have occurred in February.  That includes February 2010, which finished nearly five degrees colder than average.  It had a snow total of 32.1”, nearly six times the monthly average of 5.7”.  That also made it DC’s third snowiest February on record.  By comparison, DC has had a combined total of only 29.2” of February snowfall since 2010.  

Winter weather enthusiasts have good reason to be disappointed this winter, since only 0.6” of snow has occurred so far.  That’s DC’s lowest seasonal snow total through February 5 since the 1997-1998 winter.  Only 0.1” of snow fell during that entire winter, which tied it with the 1972-1973 season for least snowy winter season in the Nation’s Capital.  Meanwhile, December 2019 and January 2020 were each warmer than average and NOAA expects this month to be also.

My colleagues and I on the WUSA9 Weather Team are expecting a significant amount of rain during the next two days.  More than an inch is possible tomorrow night and Friday, which would be DC’s largest daily rainfall total during February since 2018.  While winter has been a disappointment so far for some, appreciable snowfall can occur in March.  In fact, March was DC’s snowiest month of the year four times over the last decade.

DC’s Largest Snowstorms  (Source: National Weather Service)

1.  28.0” (January 27 – 29, 1922)
2.  20.0” (February 12 – 14, 1899)
3.  18.7” (February 18 – 19, 1979)
4.  17.8” (January 22 – 23, 2016)
     17.8” (February 5 – 6, 2010)
6.  17.3” (January 7 – 9, 1996)
7.  16.6” (February 10 – 11, 1983)
8.  16.4” (December 18 – 19, 2009)
     16.4” (February 16 – 18, 2003)
10. 14.4” (February 7, 1936)
      14.4” (February 15 – 16, 1958)