High pressure sits over New England and cold dry air slides south across the Washington region. What could be better than an afternoon of sledding in the shadow of DC's historical district. NWS It cools and snow begins. In Virginia: Haywood and Linden 21”, Gainesville and Winchester 20”, Elkton, Earleysville and Leesburg 18”. National Disaster Survey Report: Superstorm of March 1993 , Dept. Did you know that Washington, DC gets about 17 inches of snow every winter season? Hagerstown recorded 22 inches in 24 hours. Springtime is beautiful when the flowers blossom. Shelters opened for nearly 4000 stranded travelers and those that left without heat and electricity. Water reached nine feet at Norfolk (flooding begins around five feet). The 50” total made February 2010 the single snowiest month in the history of Baltimore since snowfall records began in 1893, breaking the prior record of 40.5” set in February 2003. On January 13, Oakland, in western Maryland's Garrett County, recorded the state's all time record low temperature of -40° F. On the 14th, College Park reported -26° F, Hagerstown -27° F, Frederick -21° F, Laurel -19° F and Tacoma Park -8° F. March 29, 1921: In Washington, an early spring abruptly ended when a cold front passed through. This is known as freezing rain and is very dangerous. Below are a list of our most popular winter festivals as well as links to Things to Do for winter holidays: Christmas in DC; Hillwood Russian Winter Festival– Dec. 23; New Years; Christmas … See the National Christmas Tree, watch a festive boat parade down the Potomac … This storm struck before the days of lightning detection networks and Doppler weather radar. of Commerce, Weather Bureau, On the afternoon of the 22nd the low moved off the Georgia coast. Don't miss the popular Tot Rock music series at Jammin Java on select Friday and Saturday mornings at 10:30am. 60° 42° 30. Intense blowing and drifting snow continued and kept roads closed for several more days crippling transportation lines and causing a food shortage and rationing. 70° 55° 31. In the winter, the Washington, D.C., area gets an occasional snowstorm. Strong winds caused structural damage on land and wrecked ships at sea. In a large swath from Alabama to New England, it dropped over a foot of snow. Since 2016, outdoorsy families have been able to go sledding down Capitol Hill. The high's arctic air mass spreads south into the Washington area. At times, snow was falling 2 to 3 inches per hour and temperatures were in the single digits to teens. The rain droplets freeze into small ice pellets known as sleet. Roads were blocked and electrical service was out for several days. Getty Images offers exclusive rights-ready and premium royalty-free analog, HD, and 4K video of the highest quality. Many federal employees had been on furlough with government offices shut down for almost a month. The Tidal Potomac (salt water) froze solid, enough that people could skate across it near the Memorial Bridge. East of Washington DC the column of subfreezing air was not as thick, and the drops remained liquid until they reached the surface, where they refroze on contact to form freezing rain. Any object with a temperature below 32° F will suddenly find a glaze of ice accumulating on it. In central Maryland…Frostburg 36.0”, Hancock 30.5”, Wolfsville 30.0”, Mount Airy 28.5”, Norrisville 30.0”, Elkridge 38.3”, Pimlico 28.0”, Crofton 34.0”, Clarksburg 32.0”, and Laurel 32.2”. Huge tractors and other farm machinery had been driven to the Mall in DC to protest for higher agricultural pricing. For a period around 7 am VDOT ordered its snowplows to halt operations as visibility was reduced to less than 100 feet at times. BWI received 49.5” during three snowfalls in the first ten days of February. On the morning of the 12th, people arose to find a half foot of snow and ice blanketing the city. This tracked rapidly up the coastline, and by 5 am the low intensified deeply off the Delmarva. At first it is often deep enough for snow, but the warm air associated with the nearing storm erodes the cold air to the east of the mountains. Pronósticos, Education/Outreach 28. In Baltimore, the low tides grounded ships at their docks. The summary from 2003 to present was composed/editted by Woody with assistance from Jared Klein and Heather Sheffield. November 11, 1987: The Veteran's Day Storm will not be forgotten by many Washington travelers. The temperature fell to 26° F by the morning of the 29th: a fall of 56° F in less than 24 hours. It caused over $200 million (1962 dollars) in property damage and major coastal erosion from North Carolina to Long Island, NY. The previous record was 28.0”, set in 1922 during the famed Knickerbocker Storm. News Journal, Wilmington, DE, Sept. 18, 1994. There’s no better time to go. of Commerce, NOAA, NWS. The air rises up and over the arctic air on the coastal plain. For more details, see the Blizzard of 1996. 1982, pp. of Commerce, Weather Bureau, March 1962. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, East Coast Storm: March 5-9, 1962 - A Preliminary Report and Special Weather Bulletins Issued. On the morning of the 23rd the low was located just east of Cape Hatteras. It hit during "Spring Tide." Read on for the top things to do in DC during the winter. Winter Things to Do In Washington DC. Winds blew up to 48 mph taking down any utility poles left standing. Its greatest seasonal snowfall total was reached that season with 54.4 inches. In the nation’s capital, ‘tis the season for a tasty and warm cock... Book a safe fall or winter getaway in your own backyard. Ice storms are more common in the valleys and foothills just east of the Appalachian Mountains than in Washington and southern Maryland. This storm is listed as the record. East of the Blue Ridge, sleet accumulated quickly on the morning of the 14th – Valentine’s Day. Snowplows were unable to move in the gridlock. Even with help from out-of-state utility companies, many people were without power for a week. It disrupted the Union Army offensive operation in the ill-famed "Mud March". The entire region was paralyzed and the Federal Government remained shut down. The snow was fine and powdery, and blew around easily as wind gusts increased to 40-50 mph. The city was completely blacked out with the exception of a few gas lights. This allowed a steady stream of cold air to flow down the east side of the Appalachian Mountains into the mid Atlantic region - all three major airports reported temperatures in the teens throughout the day. On the 20th a cold front brought an inch of snow to Washington DC metro area and caused temperatures to fall back below freezing leading up to January 23. DC's Cherry Blossom Extravaganza 2021 (Washington, DC) The Bullpen at Half Street Fairgrounds • Washington, DC. The most devastating storm struck February 10-11 leaving a coat of ice, one to three inches thick, from freezing rain and sleet! 1. Score tickets for these awesome wintertime shows at concert venues a... Women-Owned Restaurants and Chefs in Washington, DC, 12 Places to Enjoy Hot and Cozy Drinks in Washington, DC, 10 Ways to Celebrate the Chinese New Year in Washington, DC, Ways to Celebrate Women's History Month in Washington, DC, Ways to Celebrate Black History Month in Washington, DC, Mark Your Calendar for These 20+ Winter Concerts in Washington, DC, Guide to the Washington Convention Center, Find the Right Space for Your Intimate Meeting, What's Open, Reopening, Closed and Canceled in Washington, DC, Things to Know About the Downtown Holiday Market, Find Holiday Hotel Specials, Packages & More, Check Out These Fall & Holiday Deals in DC, 10+ Can't-Miss Holiday Events & Light Displays, 20+ Things to Do This April in Washington, DC, 901 7th Street NW, 4th Floor, Washington, DC 20001-3719, © 2020 Washington.org. A third storm struck on Friday, January 12 dumping another 4 to 6 inches over the metro area. Utility company records show the frequency with which wires have fallen due to ice and needed repairing. Great Storms of the Jersey Shore. Thirty to 36 inches of snow fell over Frederick and western Loudoun Counties. On January 19, snowflakes were seen in Miami, Florida! Save DC's Cherry Blossom Extravaganza 2021 (Washington, DC) to your collection. Washington's biggest winter storms are the great "Nor'easters". Local Climatic Data for Cumberland, MD. The dense, cold air tries to move west over the Appalachian Mountains, but it can not. Totals for the storm ranged from 4-8” of snow and sleet across northern Virginia and central Maryland, to up to ¾ inch of ice in southern Prince Georges County. The provided a steady stream of moisture to flow into the mid Atlantic states. In College Park, the temperature fell from 83° F to 25° F and reached a minimum of 20° F on the 30th. The Climate Handbook for Washington, DC. 58, 93-94, 165, 168, 191. So, if you live in the area, or are planning to play a visit during the winter holidays, take a look at 50 fun and easy things to do with your kids. This is called "cold air damming". Great Things to Do With Kids this Winter in Washington, DC 1. The prior record was 34.9” in February 2003. Mean Temp: 58 °F. Food was also rationed, though not as severely as the coal. In New Jersey alone, it was estimated to have destroyed or greatly damaged 45,000 homes. The surface map on the morning of the 6th showed deep low pressure just east of Virginia Beach. Perhaps the strongest nor'easter of this century struck on March 5-9, 1962. High Temp: 89 °F. The latest snow ever recorded at Baltimore was a trace on May 9, 1923. The total at DCA was the 4th greatest two day snowfall in Washington DC since records began in 1871; for Baltimore it was their second greatest. However, with high pressure over upstate New York, surface temperatures dropped below freezing by early afternoon on northerly winds. Quantico recorded a record low of -20° F and Washington, DC recorded -15° F. The blizzard struck on Valentine's Day dropping 21 inches in Washington and Baltimore. Washington, DC. The heavy snow helped to set up the Great Spring Flood of March 1936, on the Potomac River. The islands of Chincoteague and Assateague were completely underwater. February 7, 1936: Over 14 inches of snow fell in the Washington area in a heavy snow band that stretched from the Virginia mountains across southern Washington, southern Maryland and the Lower Eastern Shore where 12 to 18 inches of snow fell. Almost a foot (11.5 inches) fell at National Airport. Sterling Reporter With events happening all over the Capital Region, including events in nearby Virginia and Maryland, winter is a great time to visit Washington, D.C., to enjoy everything from winter sports to indoor pastimes like shows or museums. Please select one of the following: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Local records from the Washington DC Forecast Office, DOC, NOAA, NWS. Dust was seen blowing along the dried out riverbed! The heavy snow and winds paralyzed the region. The next day, DC recorded 93° F and on the 29th 90° F again. US Dept. The 16th Annual Downtown Holiday Market, Washington D.C.’s outdoor shopping village, kicks off the holiday season Friday, November 20. The snowfall, coinciding with the afternoon commute, led to multiple hours of gridlocked traffic due to the treacherous driving conditions. Monthly Weather-Washington, DC. The high temperatures for Washington, DC in the winter tend to hover in the mid-40s. Eleven people died in Virginia, one in the District, and one in Maryland during and immediately following the storm. Electric and phone lines were down with as much as 90 percent of the area's people without power. When winter sets in, the city of Washington DC begins to sparkle with beautiful light displays, holiday cheer and an abundance of things to do and see. Washington recorded 10 inches of snow in January, but none fell the rest of the winter ending it 5.5 inches below normal. Conditions deteriorated rapidly as heavy precipitation overspread the region at the start of the afternoon rush hour. By mid-afternoon it moved into the DC metro area, becoming extremely heavy across the entire region by early evening, and continuing throughout the night. The upper portion of the Chesapeake Bay was frozen allowing people to walk from Annapolis to Kent Island, Maryland. Forecasting the snowfall amount probability, snow accumulation, and a snowfall forecast map. Email Staff The contrast of the cold air sinking into the Carolinas and warm air off the Carolina Coast creates a breeding ground for storms. Lewis, from January 10 to 19. Local Climatic Data for Hagerstown, MD. High pressure builds over New England. of Commerce, NOAA, NWS, 1994. Share: Get the Long Range Weather for Your Location ... Winter temperatures will be above normal, on average, with the coldest periods in mid-December and early and mid-January. Founded in 1954, the Washington Winter Show®, The Washington Antiques Show®, is the 2nd oldest charitable antiques show in the US. With the March storm, Westminister had 28 inches of snow on the ground and a total of 42 inches for the month. All NOAA. The weight of the snow was too much for the Knickerbocker Theater on 18th Street and Columbia in Northwest Washington, DC. It caught motorists off guard and stranded cars on the Capitol Beltway. of Commerce, NOAA, NWS. Winds produced blizzard conditions over portions of northern Virginia and central and western Maryland with snow drifts up to 12 feet! Feb 2007 write-up by Elizabeth Thompson. Just two days earlier, an impasse between a republican congress and a democratic president over the 1996 Federal Budget had finally come to an end. Another nor'easter struck on March 21, but the heavy snow fell northeast of Washington. NOAA, NWS, May 1994. Local Climatic Data for Easton, MD. The days after the storm were of little help to road and power crews, as well as those trying to clear driveways, as temperatures remained subfreezing until the afternoon of the 17th. Sometimes water piles inland causing major coastal flooding. Snowfall totals in the NWS Sterling forecast area included…Washington DC: 26” at Delcarlia Reservoir, 22.4” at the National Zoo, and 21” in Adams Morgan. Big Meadows, southeast of Luray, recorded Virginia's greatest 24-hour snowfall with 33 inches and the greatest single storm snowfall with 42 inches. Cars littered the roadway for more than 24 hours. In Washington, the latest snow was seen on May 10, 1906, when a trace fell. Hi/Low, RealFeel®, precip, radar, & everything you need to be ready for the day, commute, and weekend! January 28, 1922: Exactly 150 years after the Washington and Jefferson Storm came the deepest snow of this century to hit parts of Virginia. Cold winds blowing across the warm lakes brought 68 inches of snow to Buffalo, NY. Baltimore received its greatest snow in 20 years with 22 inches measured. The one week snowfall record for Washington DC was also bested with a total of 28.6”. Some totals for this storm: in Maryland: Glydon 26”, Westminster 25”, Owings Mills, Reisterstown, and Millers 24”, Manchester 23”, Sykesville and Frostburg 22”. Here are some tips for making the most of a low-season visit to the nation’s capital. Questions? The set up for an ice storm is similar to that for snow. By storms end, New York was buried under 21 inches of snow. of Commerce, NOAA, NWS. Winter Washington Dc Videos - Download 91 stock videos with Winter Washington Dc for FREE or amazingly low rates! Storm Data, Dept. We've got information about Washington, DC winter weather, holidays, and things to do. When local daylight time is about to reach. On March 28, it was 82° F at noon in Washington. Local Climatic Data for Bel Air, MD. National Disaster Survey Report: The Great Nor'easter of December 1992 , Dept. The American Weather Book. Season with the Least Snow = only 0.1 inches of snow fell in 1972-1973. Local Climatic Data for Frostburg, MD. Discover pure joy in Washington, DC this winter. President Carter asked people to turn thermostats down to conserve energy. By 10 am visibility was reduced to 1/2 mile. Colder air moved into the area during this time, allowing precipitation to change quickly to sleet and then heavy snow. Official weather records did not begin until after the Civil War. A snowstorm struck the Washington area on February 8 dumping 14 inches of snow. The lowest snow total for the storm was 8-10” in southeast St. Mary’s County. In order for a nor'easter to give Washington a large amount of snow, there must first be a source of cold air. January 30-31, 1966: A blizzard struck Washington and the Northeast US. Precipitation will be near normal, with mostly below-normal snowfall. The weather is mild compared to many other parts of the US, and there’s much to experience—and smaller crowds to navigate—during this time. Georgetown ice rink: Go skating! of Commerce, NOAA, NWS. East of the arctic air lies the warm water of the Gulf Stream. As ice accumulates on trees and wires, the weight eventually causes them to break, knocking out power and phone service. Plows that would have been working on secondary roads and residential areas were sent back to the primary roads. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company, 1988, Sledding by the U.S. Capitol. The snow caused plows to move away from clearing secondary roads and residential areas and go back to plowing the main arteries and emergency routes. Inland, a blizzard may be brewing with visibility near zero in blowing and falling snow and winds gusting over 35 mph. Things to Do in Washington DC in the Winter Soak Up Christmas in Washington DC. Reagan National Airport received 7.2”. The cold air tries to push west but can not rise over the mountains. Weather Calculator, Contact Us Things to do this winter in Washington, DC Lunch at the Fish Market at the Wharf : The Fish Market draws big crowds in nice weather but is much quieter during the winter months. Barbara Watson composed this summary through the storm of January 1996 with assistance from Dave Gustin, Dewey Walston and Melody Paschetag. Starts at $25.00. January 16-18, 1857: This was the great blizzard and freeze. Eventually, the cold air mass is so shallow that the rain does not freeze until it hits the ground. February 9-10, 2010: “Blizzard Two." Get the forecast for today, tonight & tomorrow's weather for Washington, DC. Dept. On January 9, 1996, an unusually strong Alberta Clipper passed through the metro area. In March, a regiment of the Virginia Infantry marched from Falmouth to Fredericksburg. January 28, 1772: This storm was named the Washington and Jefferson Snow Storm since both of their diaries recorded it. Heavy snow continued through the evening hours with snowfall rates around 2 to 3 inches per hour at the height of the event. However, there are exceptions. Sunday, November 7, 2021, 2:00:00 am clocks are turned backward 1 hour to. May Sun mon tue wed thu fri sat. An additional one-half inch was received later in the month. Damages were estimated at near 100 million dollars for the region. January 7-13, 1996: The Blizzard of '96 or the Great Furlough Storm began early on Sunday, January 7. Visibility remained extremely poor through 4 pm Saturday afternoon. After a horrific ice storm struck on February 10-11, 1994, portions of Southern Maryland and central Virginia were without power for a week from ice laden trees and wires falling. Today’s and tonight’s Washington, DC weather forecast, weather conditions and Doppler radar from The Weather Channel and Weather.com By midnight the low pressure areas had combined and moved to the North Carolina coast. In northern Virginia…Howellsville 37.0”, Armel 31.5”, Berryville 32.0”, Marshall 32.0”, Leesburg 34.5”, Chantilly 28.0”, and Alexandria 28.9”. The National Guard was called to help with emergency transport and critical snow removal. Coldest Temperature = -15° F on Feb. 11, 1899. These storms include the "Alberta Clipper," a fast moving storm from the Alberta, Canada region, and cold fronts sweeping through from the west. 28, 1898 The March 1993 storm was not "the storm of the century" for Washington. A potent upper low moved through the area during the late afternoon and evening. Washington fell into the mixed precipitation zone. Therefore, this storm is not listed as the record, but it was the largest snow for this area ever noted. In Washington, the snow began on January 4, just as the Carter Administration was moving into town. In eastern West Virginia…Sheperdstown 14.0”, Martinsburg 16.0”, Berkeley Springs 11.4”, Romney 12.0”, and Bayard 14.0”. 10+ Things to Do in Washington DC in Winter 2019 - December & January Activities & More 28/11/2019, cmakovich Although it doesn’t tend to attract as many tourists in the wintertime, Washington, D.C. is still a great destination in the off-season. National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden Ice Rink. It came to an end during mid-afternoon in the central Shenandoah Valley, but continued until around midnight north of the Potomac River to the Pennsylvania border as the low tracked northeast of the Delmarva. DC’s Best Outdoor Winter Bars with Fire Pits, Hot Cocktails, and Luxe Igloos Raise a toast to staying toasty . Dept. Winter Weather Baltimore Washington. Biggest Snowstorm = 28 inches, Jan. 1922 (official); 36 inches, Jan. 1772 (unofficial), (Greatest Number of Consecutive Days with an inch or more on the ground). In eastern West Virginia…Vanville 30.0”, Middleway 31.0”, Lehew 34.0”, Smiths Crossroads 29.5”, Keyser 29.2”, and Bayard 33.0”. On the morning of Monday the 8th cold high pressure settled into the mid Atlantic region, while low pressure was forming across south Texas, with a second low pressure area centered over Iowa. On the Chesapeake Bay, the water was at its lowest tide on record preventing ships from sailing up it. As an outdoor activity, with masks on, it's fairly easy to social distance. Snowiest Month = 35.2 inches during Feb. 1899. The south branch of the jet stream carries a disturbance from the Gulf Coast to the Carolina Coast where it intensifies into a storm. Jan 22-23, 2016 Blizzard: One of the amazing things about this storm was that just a few weeks prior, due to the effects of El Nino, Washington DC and Baltimore both experienced their warmest end of the year in history – with average temperatures for the last ten days of almost four degrees warmer than had previously ever been recorded.