A wild trio of extremes includes a 1961 snowstorm ahead of Kennedy’s inauguration, a brutal 1994 cold snap that shut down the region, and a 1996 thaw-driven flood that sent the Potomac near record levels.
An unexpectedly heavy 1984 snowstorm struck during the morning commute, dumping several inches, disrupting travel, and shutting down much of the region.
A frigid 1982 cold snap set record low temperatures, while a damaging 1994 ice storm coated the region and turned roads into a dangerous frozen landscape.
Unseasonable warmth in 1932 sent temperatures to a record 77 degrees, capping a remarkable stretch of frequent 50- and 60-degree days during one of the city’s warmest Januaries.
Brutal cold in 1912 sent temperatures to around minus-12, part of a severe Arctic outbreak with record lows and one of the coldest highs ever recorded.
A tragic 1982 snowstorm coincided with the Air Florida crash that killed 78 people, while in 2019 a prolonged storm set a daily snowfall record and delivered one of the city’s snowiest stretches in years.
A follow-up 1996 snowfall added over 4 inches just days after the Blizzard of 1996, capping an exceptionally snowy January before a sudden shift to milder weather.
Springlike warmth in 2020 pushed temperatures into the 70s with gusty winds, while in 1922 a powerful coastal storm drenched the area with record rainfall.
A deep freeze in 1982 held the high to a record-cold 15 degrees, with biting winds causing power outages and widespread disruption during one of the coldest January stretches on record.
Intense cold in 1970 set record lows for both the high and low temperatures, part of a brutally frigid start to January that strained power supplies across the region.
A well-forecast 1988 snowstorm dropped over 6 inches of powdery snow with minimal chaos, while in 1780 the region endured one of its most extreme cold spells, with rivers and the Chesapeake Bay frozen solid.
