DC Area snowfall trends

 

January 2019 snow in Bethesda, Maryland

The last Top 10 snowfall to occur in the nation’s capital was over a two-day period on January 22-23, 2016. That’s when 17.8” was officially measured at National Airport. Above average snowfall in the nation’s capital has become a rarity in the nation’s capital since then. In fact, the 2024-2025 winter season recently became only the second snowier than average (13.7”) winter in the nation’s capital since 2015-2016 with a total of 14.8” to date.

The 6.4” of snow that occurred at National Airport last week also made this February DC’s first with above average snowfall since 2015. In the nine years since the record-setting winter storm in January 2016, DC’s had only eight snowier than average months, including this one.

DC’s snowiest month since January 2016 was January 2022 (12.3”). Also, DC’s largest winter storm since 2016 occurred in January 2019. That was when 10.3” fell from January 12 – 14. This was also DC’s last 10” snowstorm and it helped make the 2018-2019 winter snowier than average for Washingtonians (16.9”). 

January 2024 was a snowier than average month in the nation’s capital, which finished more than 2° warmer than average. The right ingredients only need to come together a few times to produce appreciable snowfall. However, if winters are often warmer and/or drier than average, snowfall becomes less likely.

When NOAA updated it’s weather averages in 2021 to reflect the 30-year period from 1991-2020, replacing 1981-2010, DC’s annual snowfall average decreased from 15.4” to 13.7”. That’s because the 2010s featured less snowfall in the nation’s capital with an annual snowfall average for the decade of 11.2” vs. nearly 17” for the 1980s.

Weather Quiz

 

Epic snow in suburban Washington, D.C.

True or False.  Six of DC’s 10 largest winter storms have occurred in February.

February snowfall in the nation's capital

 

Bethesda, Maryland

Snow developed across the DMV on February 11 with the highest snow totals south of the downtown Washington, D.C. With a storm total of 6.3” at National Airport, February 2025 has become DC’s first snowier than average (5.0”) February since 2015. Here are some other select snow totals for Tuesday’s storm courtesy of the National Weather Service. Please leave any of your snow totals for your neighborhood as a comment.

 

Washington, D.C.

Anacostia – 6.1”
US Capital – 5.3”

Maryland

White Plains – 8.6”
Prince Frederick – 7.6”
Waldorf – 6.9”
Andrews AFB – 6.8”
Wheaton – 5.1”
Bethesda – 5.0”
Laurel – 4.0”
BWI Airport – 3.8”
Poolesville – 3.2”
Bel Air – 3.0”

 

Virginia

Burke – 8.0”
Dale City – 7.8”
Centreville – 7.2”
Culpeper – 7.0”
Falls Church – 6.5”
Fredericksburg – 6.5”
National Airport – 6.4”
Alexandria – 5.5”
Ashburn – 5.0”
Dulles Airport – 4.9”