How often does DC see a snowy Christmas ?

 

December 2023, Bethesda, Maryland

Although Washington, D.C. averages 1.7” of December snowfall, longtime Washingtonians know just how rare snow on Christmas Day is.  Areas farther north and west of the immediate D.C. Metro Area have considerably higher odds of seeing a White Christmas.  The National Weather Service officially defines a “White Christmas” as having “…at least 1 inch of snow being on the ground at 7 a.m. on December 25.”

D.C.’s average high and low temperatures on Christmas Day are 47°/33°.  Since 1884, there has been measurable snowfall on Christmas Day only nine times or roughly every 15 years.  The last time was on December 25, 2002, with 0.2”. 

However, the last time Washingtonians had old snow on the ground on Christmas Day was in 2009.  That’s because the nation’s capital had its largest December snowfall on record the week before.  A total of 16.4” was measured at National Airport on December 18-19, 2009.  Although more than half had melted by Christmas Day, 7” remained on the ground, creating D.C.’s last official White Christmas.  More recently, snow flurries occurred in the nation’s capital on December 25, 2020, but that didn’t meet NOAA’s official definition of a “White Christmas.”

Precipitation of any kind, including rainfall, is much more common on Christmas Day.  D.C. residents have had measurable precipitation on December 25 a total of 55 times, dating back to 1871.  The most recent Christmas in the nation’s capital with measurable rainfall was in 2021 with 0.07”.

The coldest Christmas Day in Washington, D.C. occurred in 1983 with high/low temperatures of 14°/3°.  The last time temperatures remained below freezing on Christmas was in 2000 when the high temperature was only 28°.  By comparison, D.C.’s warmest Christmas on record was in 1964 (72°).  More recently, D.C. residents had a high temperature of 68° on December 25, 2021, which tied with 1932 for fourth warmest Christmas.  Last Christmas was much colder with a high/low of only 34°/14° at National Airport.

Washington, D.C.’s Biggest Christmas Day Snowfalls (Source: NOAA)

1.  5.4” (1962)
2.  4.5” (1909)
3.  4.3” (1969)
4.  1.0” (1902)
5.  0.6” (1935)

Washington, D.C.’s Highest Christmas Day Temperatures (Source: NOAA)

1.  72° (1964)
2.  70° (1982)
3.  69° (2015, 1965)
5.  68° (2021, 1932)
7.  65° (1893, 1889)

Washington, D.C.’s Coldest Christmas Day Temperatures (Source: NOAA)

1.  3° (1983)
2.  5° (1872)
3.  11° (1989)
4.  12° (1980)
5.  13° (1906)