DC’s powerful February snow events

 

Record snowfall in suburban Washington, D.C.

This winter has provided winter weather enthusiasts with a lot to be happy about across the DMV (DC, Maryland and Virginia). However, as in nine of the last 10 February’s, this February is well-positioned to finish with below average snowfall. That’s despite February being the snowiest month of the year in the nation’s capital, based on NOAA averages. In fact, six of DC’s 10 largest winter storms have occurred in February with “Snowmageddon” being the most recent in 2010. Here are some of the others. 

2003: This Presidents Day storm was the signature weather event of the 2002-2003 winter season. With 16.4” of snow officially at National Airport (DCA) from February 16-18, this storm remains tied for DC’s eighth largest on record. Snow totals of greater than 20” were common west and north of downtown, including 26.8” at BWI Airport and 21.7” at Dulles Airport.

1983: A total of 16.6” accumulated at National Airport during a storm from February 10-11. It remains DC’s seventh largest snowstorm. By coincidence, both Dulles and BWI Airports saw 22.8” of snow during this storm and it ranks in the Top 10 at both locations. The 1982-1983 winter season was an El Nino winter and this storm illustrated how many of DC’s largest winter storms occur during El Nino winters.

1979: A total of 30.6” of snow fell at National Airport, with the majority during an epic February 18-19 winter storm. Its 18.7” of snow paralyzed the DMV and remains DC’s third largest snowstorm. This storm is also significant because it ranks as the largest snowfall at National Airport since it opened in 1941. DC’s two largest snowstorms occurred in January 1922 and February 1899, respectively, before National Airport opened. It was also a Top 10 snowfall at Dulles and BWI Airports. February 1979 remains one of only four months that the nation’s capital has gotten at least 30.0” of snow.

February 1899: 35.2”
January 1922: 31.5”
February 1979: 30.6”
February 2010: 32.1”

1899: This remains the snowiest February on record in Washington, D.C., with a monthly total of 35.2”. That can be largely attributed to DC’s second largest snowstorm (20.0”) that occurred from February 12-14. 

How cold has it been?

 

A frigid winter's morning in suburban Washington, D.C.

This winter has easily been one of the coldest in recent memory across the DMV (DC, Maryland and Virginia). Both December 2025 and January 2026 were more than four degrees colder than average in the nation’s capital for the first time in 15 years. DC’s longest stretch of consecutive subfreezing temperatures in more than 30 years also occurred.

DC’s signature stretch of cold weather this winter was the nine days that temperatures remained below freezing (January 24 – February 1). That was DC’s longest such stretch since a 10-day streak in December 1989, according to NOAA.

What also made this nine-day period of unusual cold even more extreme was the high impact winter storm on January 25. A total of 6.9” of snow and sleet accumulated at National Airport and 7.8” at Dulles Airport. Totals close to double that occurred in parts of the DMV. That combined with the prolonged period of subfreezing temperatures quickly turned the snow and sleet into a thick layer of ice or “snow-crete” as it was dubbed. Winds also gusted to at least 30 mph on seven of the nine subfreezing days, making wind chills even more dangerous.

The unusual cold has lingered into this month with the first nine days of February finishing an incredible 12.1° colder than average in Washington, D.C. In fact, the first eight days of February were part of an unusually cold 16-day stretch in the nation’s capital. DC’s average temperature (combining daily high and low temperatures) for the period of January 24 – February 8, 2026 was 23.1°.

The fact such a cold stretch occurred in the nation’s capital this year without any single-digit temperatures underscores how rare single-digit temperatures have become in Washington, D.C. (with none since December 2022).

Weather Quiz

 

A winter's day in Washington, D.C.

True or False.

Five of DC’s 10 warmest February’s have occurred since 2017.