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Our region's extreme run


MN Transplant
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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.

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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. 

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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.
 
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21 minutes ago, RodneyS said:
 
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.

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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?

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On 2/9/2026 at 1:07 PM, 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 Knickerbocker 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, totaling only 17.8 inches of snow and ice, and 1.50 inches of precipitation. 

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On 1/31/2026 at 5:28 PM, RodneyS said:

January 2026 at DCA started ho-hum, but ended with eight consecutive below-freezing maximum temperatures. With a 9th straight subfreezing day all but guaranteed for tomorrow and a possible 10th straight one on Monday, the streak will be close to or equivalent to the last such winter blast more than 36 years ago during December 16-25, 1989.

For the month as a whole, DCA averaged 33.3 degrees, 4.2 below the 1991-2020 normal of 37.5 degrees, and tied with 1896 and 1935 as only the 104th warmest (of 156) January in DC history.

January 2026 precipitation at DCA totaled 3.16 inches, 0.30 above the 1991-2020 normal of 2.86, and the 58th wettest January in DC history.

February 2026 at DCA made it three consecutive months of not just below 1991-2020 normal -- but also below historical 1871-2026 average -- temperatures in DC.  

For the month, DCA averaged 36.2 degrees, 3.8 below the 1991-2020 normal of 40.0 degrees and 1.1 below the 1871-2026 DC average of 37.3 degrees.

For the 3-month meteorological winter as a whole, DCA averaged 35.6 degrees, 3.7 below the 1991-2020 normal of 39.3 degrees and 1.5 below the 1871-2026 DC average of 37.1 degrees.

February 2026 precipitation at DCA totaled 2.57 inches, 0.05 below above the 1991-2020 normal of 2.62.

For the 3-month meteorological winter as a whole, DCA totaled 7.50 inches, 1.39 below the 1991-2020 normal of 8.89.

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15 hours ago, RodneyS said:

February 2026 at DCA made it three consecutive months of not just below 1991-2020 normal -- but also below historical 1871-2026 average -- temperatures in DC.  

For the month, DCA averaged 36.2 degrees, 3.8 below the 1991-2020 normal of 40.0 degrees and 1.1 below the 1871-2026 DC average of 37.3 degrees.

For the 3-month meteorological winter as a whole, DCA averaged 35.6 degrees, 3.7 below the 1991-2020 normal of 39.3 degrees and 1.5 below the 1871-2026 DC average of 37.1 degrees.

February 2026 precipitation at DCA totaled 2.57 inches, 0.05 below above the 1991-2020 normal of 2.62.

For the 3-month meteorological winter as a whole, DCA totaled 7.50 inches, 1.39 below the 1991-2020 normal of 8.89.

Coldest winter since 2002-03, and likewise with the coldest period since August 1st. 

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16 minutes ago, Cobalt said:

Coldest winter since 2002-03, and likewise with the coldest period since August 1st. 

Good points. 

By the way, the DCA February 24th temperature data are still officially missing.  During that day, I noted a temperature range there of 27 to 40 and so used that to calculate my averages, but that range could change marginally.  I'm unsure whether the weather station at DCA is having equipment problems or what's going on there, but missing data has been reported there several times in recent weeks.

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