Recent Snow Trends in the Nation’s Capital

 

Lexie during the Blizzard of 2016 (Bethesda, Maryland)

With largely above average temperatures expected to continue for the remainder of February, this month is all but certain to finish as D.C.’s eighth consecutive February with below average snowfall.  This trend led to D.C.’s February snowfall average to fall to 5.0” from 5.7” when NOAA updated its averages in early 2021. 

DC’s snowiest winter on record was in 2009-2010.  All 10 of DC’s snowiest winters were colder than average based on seasonal averages for December, January and February.  Those three months are considered “meteorological” winter.

Although 14 of the last 20 winters have seen below average snowfall in the Nation’s Capital, four of DC’s 10 largest winter storms occurred over the same time period.  February 2010 finished as DC’s second snowiest February and second snowiest month, overall, with 32.1”.  More than half of that total came from “Snowmageddon” (17.8”).  More recently, the January 2016 winter storm also produced 17.8” to tie for D.C.’s fourth largest snowfall.

Several of DC’s 10 largest snowstorms occurred during warmer than average winters, such as the 2015-2016 winter.  This underscores how the right ingredients need to come together only once to produce appreciable snowfall.  However, that’s become less common in the Nation’s Capital during the last several years.

In the seven years since the “Blizzard of 2016,” there has been a combined total of only four snowier than average months in Washington, D.C.  At the same time, six of the last seven winters have been warmer than average in the Nation’s Capital.  That includes D.C.’s warmest December (2015) and February (2017), along with a number of other winter months that have ranked among D.C.’s warmest.

This trend for sustained warmer than average winter weather combined with below average snowfall is not positive for winter weather enthusiasts.  The 2022-2023 winter season is well-positioned to continue that trend.  The only glimmer of hope for Washingtonians longing for snowfall is the knowledge that March is the only month whose snowfall average increased (2.0” up from 1.3”) when NOAA updated its precipitation averages to reflect 1991-2020.  That’s because the Nation’s Capital has had above average March snowfall five times over the last decade.

DC’s Snowiest Winters (Source: NOAA)

1.  56.1” (2009-2010)
2.  54.4” (1898-1899)
3.  46.0” (1995-1996)
4.  42.5” (1921-1922)
5.  41.7” (1891-1892)
6.  41.0” (1904-1905)
7.  40.4” (2002-2003, 1957-1958)
9.  40.3” (1960-1961)
10.  39.8” (1910-1911)

DC’s Coldest Winters (Source: NOAA)

1.  29.0° (1904-1905)
2.  29.4° (1903-1904)
3.  29.5° (1917-1918)
4.  29.8° (1880-1881)
5.  30.8° (1935-1936)
6.  31.0° (1892-1893)
7.  31.3° (1919-1920)
8.  31.7° (1894-1895)
9.  31.9° (1962-1963, 1884-1885)
11.  32.0° (1876-1877)