Our region's extreme run

[PrinceFrederickWx]

17 hours ago, nw baltimore wx said:

I thought that 1979 leading up to PD1 was colder, but I guess not. Also thought 1977 was in the mix too.

I’m surprised there’s no Jan. 1977 too. Also Jan. 1994, Feb. 2015 and Dec. 2017. I wasn’t even aware 1970 had any cold outbreak. Interesting chart! Although this is for <28; maybe <32 would have different results.

[PrinceFrederickWx]

I looked up less then 32 degrees consecutive days at BWI for a few years I was curious about (therefore, I have no idea if 1989 is the record, these are only the ones I checked).

1/16/77 - 1/23/77: 8 days 

2/9/79 - 2/15/79: 7 days

12/16/89 - 12/25/89: 10 days

1/19/94 - 1/21/94: 3 days (this one really shocked me! Time goes slower when you're a kid)

2/15/15 - 2/20/15: 6 days

12/31/17- 1/7/18: 8 days

Current streak (as of yesterday): 9 days. 

This is out-of-scope to the time period discussed, but I had to check this one too: 2/8/1899 - 2/15/1899 was 8 days. 

[RodneyS]

Here is an interesting fact that I just posted at https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2026/02/09/dc-weather-live-updates-not-as-cold-forecast

 

On January 22-23, 2016, Dulles Airport received 29.3 inches of snow and ice, and the snow/ice depth there was 28 inches as of noon on January 24th. On February 4, 2016 -- 11 days later -- that depth was zero.

 

On January 25, 2026, Dulles Airport received 7.8 inches of snow and ice, and the snow/ice depth there was 8 inches as of noon on January 26th. On February 8, 2016 -- 13 days later -- that depth was six inches.

 

[MN Transplant]

21 minutes ago, RodneyS said:

Here is an interesting fact that I just posted at https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2026/02/09/dc-weather-live-updates-not-as-cold-forecast

 

On January 22-23, 2016, Dulles Airport received 29.3 inches of snow and ice, and the snow/ice depth there was 28 inches as of noon on January 24th. On February 4, 2016 -- 11 days later -- that depth was zero.

 

On January 25, 2026, Dulles Airport received 7.8 inches of snow and ice, and the snow/ice depth there was 8 inches as of noon on January 26th. On February 8, 2016 -- 13 days later -- that depth was six inches.

 

I wonder where the storm would rank all-time just simply on frozen precipitation.  Basically, how many 2.00" liquid equivalent storms have we had in our area.

[Eskimo Joe]

42 minutes ago, MN Transplant said:

I wonder where the storm would rank all-time just simply on frozen precipitation.  Basically, how many 2.00" liquid equivalent storms have we had in our area.

Are you referring to 2"+ liquid events in DJF? What airport are you looking for, just DCA< or BWI, DCA, and IAD?

[RodneyS]

30 minutes ago, MN Transplant said:

I wonder where the storm would rank all-time just simply on frozen precipitation.  Basically, how many 2.00" liquid equivalent storms have we had in our area.

If you are talking about DC proper, I believe that the Knickebocker Storm is the champion.  

In that Friday-Sunday, January 27-29, 1922 storm, Washington, DC received 28.0 inches of snow and ice, and 3.03 inches of precipitation.  However, Dulles Airport topped that in the Friday-Saturday, February 5-6, 2010 storm, receiving 32.4 inches of snow and ice, and 3.25 inches of precipitation.  That storm was not nearly as severe at DCA, totalilng only 17.8 inches of snow and ice, and 1.50 inches of precipitation.