What makes Monday’s Snow Storm Memorable ?

 

Aside from being the largest winter storm in the Nation’s Capital in nearly three years, it stood out for other reasons.  Multiple snow records were set in the D.C. Metro Area following highs in the 60s over the weekend.  Heavy accumulations also occurred south of town and it was a very wet snow which made it harder to shovel.

The last time 5” or more of snow accumulated in Washington, D.C. was in January 2019.  A total of 10.3” fell at National Airport from January 12 – 14, 2019.  A daily snowfall record of 8.3” occurred on January 13, 2019 at National, while Dulles had a daily record of 7.7”.  Fast forward to Monday’s storm when D.C.’s three area airports, National, Dulles and BWI all set daily January 3 snowfall records of 6.9”, 3.9” and 6.8” respectively. 

Monday’s snow totals were greater than the last two winters combined, when only 6.0” fell at National Airport.  As significant as Monday’s 6.9” of snow was it’s still only roughly half of D.C. annual average snowfall of 13.7”, according to NOAA.  With the exception of a few big storms, such as in January 2016 or January 2019, the last decade has seen a lot of below average winters in terms of snowfall.  That led NOAA’s snowfall average for the Nation’s Capital to fall from 15.4” to 13.7” following last winter when the 30-year period of 1991-2020 replaced 1981-2010.

One memorable facet of the storm is that higher snow totals occurred south and east of the immediate D.C. Metro Area.  Widespread totals of 10”-15” were common from central Virginia (Charlottesville and Fredericksburg) to southern Maryland (Calvert, Charles and St. Mary’s Counties).  Normally, the suburbs to the north and west of the Nation’s Capital see the most snow compared to areas south and east. 

High temperatures were in the 50s and 60s during the few days leading up to Monday’s storm.  Consequently, it was hard for many to imagine significant snow totals could occur just 24 hours later.  That’s despite accurate forecasts made Sunday night by D.C. Area meteorologists, such as those on the WUSA9 Weather Team.  NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center expects below average temperatures to continue through the middle of January