What are the biggest snowstorms in DC area history?
DC weather: Snow, arctic air blast threaten region this weekend
Heavy snow and a cold blast of arctic air threaten the Washington, D.C. region this weekend.
WASHINGTON - The Washington, D.C., area is bracing for a powerful winter storm that has the potential to bring significant snowfall for the first time this year.
Could this weekend's storm make history? It's still unclear how much will actually fall, but it's been years since the region's last record-setting snow.
Historic snowfalls
The backstory:
Here's a look back at some of the biggest snowfalls in the DC area.
Washington D.C.
The Knickerbocker Storm dropped about 28 inches across the city, resulting in the tragic collapse of the Knickerbocker Theatre roof, killing 98 people. It remains the largest snowstorm in DC history.
The most recent major snowfalls happened in 2010 and 2016, both bringing a foot or more of snow to the area.
WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 21: A pile of shoveled snow stands in the plaza on the east side of the U.S. Capitol January 21, 2016 in Washington, DC. One inch of snowfall delayed school openings in the greater Washington, DC, area on Thursday as people a
Maryland
Snowmageddon, one of the biggest storms in state history, dumped about 40 inches of snow in February 2010.
In 2003, a crippling storm across central Maryland brought 25–30 inches.
The latest historic snowfall happened in January 2016, when the city saw 30–35 inches pile on the ground.
Virginia
The Virginia area was hit even harder by Snowmageddon in 2010, when 30–40 were piled high on the ground.
Extreme snowfall hit the state again in 2016, with Blizzard Jones dropping 25–35 inches and "Presidents’ Day II" bringing 20–30 inches in 2003.
DC weather: How much snow is expected?
The Washington, D.C., region is bracing for a significant snowstorm this weekend that could bring major accumulations to the nation’s capital and surrounding areas.
Top snowfall totals
By the numbers:
The DC area has seen massive storms over the past several decades, with the greatest amount falling in the suburbs.
Washington D.C.
- January 27–29, 1922 (Knickerbocker Storm): 28 inches
- February 12–14, 1899 (Valentine’s Day Blizzard): 20 inches
- February 18–19, 1979: 18.7 inches
- February 5–6, 2010 ("Snowmageddon"): 17–18 inches
- January 22–24, 2016 (Blizzard Jonas): 16–17 inches
Maryland
- February 5–6, 2010 ("Snowmageddon"): 40 inches
- January 22–24, 2016 (Blizzard Jonas): 30–35 inches
- February 16–18, 2003 ("Presidents’ Day II"): 25–30 inches
- January 27–29, 1922 (Knickerbocker Storm): 25–30 inches
- February 11–12, 1983: 22–25 inches
Virginia
- February 5–6, 2010 ("Snowmageddon"): 30–40 inches
- January 22–24, 2016 (Blizzard Jonas): 25–35 inches
- February 16–18, 2003 ("Presidents’ Day II"): 20–30 inches
- March 12–14, 1993 ("Storm of the Century"): 20–25 inches
- February 10–11, 1983: 18–24 inches
How much snow is expected on Sunday? Model potentials, forecast predictions point to major storm
The Washington, D.C., region is bracing for a significant snowstorm this weekend that could bring major accumulations to the nation’s capital and surrounding areas.
Another historic snowstorm?
What's next:
The Washington, D.C., region is bracing for a significant snowstorm this weekend that could bring major accumulations to the nation’s capital and surrounding areas.
Current models suggest more than 15 inches could fall in Washington, D.C., and over 20 inches in higher elevation areas north and west of the District, including Cumberland, Maryland.
The Source: Information from this article was sourced from the National Weather Service and previous reporting by FOX 5 DC.