How common is late-season snow in Washington, D.C.?

 

Winter weather advisories for the DMV (Source: NWS)

While the 2025-2026 winter season has been frigid in the nation’s capital, it has also featured below average snowfall with only 8.6” since December 1. With snow forecast later today and tonight, some DMV (DC, Maryland and Virginia) residents may wonder how common accumulating snowfall is after Presidents Day. Though the chances of appreciable snow decrease towards the end of February, it isn’t off the table.

It would take 5.1” of new snow for the nation’s capital to reach its seasonal snowfall average of 13.6”. However, the nation’s capital hasn’t had a 5”/+ snowfall total on or after February 20 since March 16-17, 2014 (7.2”).

The nation’s capital averages 2” of March snowfall. The last time accumulating March snowfall occurred was in 2018, when DC picked up 4.1 inches on March 21. However, none of DC’s Top 10 largest snows have occurred after February 20.

NOAA data also illustrates that DC's average March snowfall increased substantially, from 1.3” to 2” over the last 30 years. Most of the accumulating snow that we see in March falls in the first half of the month. 

While the chances for accumulating snowfall decrease with every passing day after the Presidents Day holiday, the prospects for wintry weather in the DMV continue throughout March.

The chances of snow accumulating in April in the DC region are very low. The last time measurable April snowfall fell in the nation’s capital was on April 7, 2007 (0.4”). The latest in the spring the nation’s capital has seen measurable snowfall was on April 28, 1898 (0.5”). Nine of DC’s 10 snowiest April’s occurred over 100 years ago.

DC’s five largest March snowfall totals (Source: NOAA)

1. 12.0” – March 27-28, 1891
2. 11.5” – March 28-29, 1942
3. 10.7” – March 7 – 8, 1941
4. 10.0” – March 15 – 16, 1900
5. 9.8” –  March 3 – 4, 1909

DC’s five snowiest March’s (Source: NOAA)

1. 19.3” – 1914
2. 17.1” – 1960
3. 17.0” – 1891
4. 15.5” – 1900
5. 12.7" – 2014

DC’s snowiest April’s (Source: NOAA)

1. 5.5” – 1924
2. 4.0” – 1889
3. 3.5” – 1915
4. 3.0” – 1918
5. 2.0” – 1894
6. 1.8” – 1916
7. 1.5” – 1917
8. 1.4” – 1907
9. 1.0” – 1898
10. 0.6” – 1972