The devastating 1922 Knickerbocker storm buried the city under a record 21 inches of snow, its relentless intensity leading to a deadly theater roof collapse and the worst disaster in Washington’s history.
A legendary 1772 snowstorm—chronicled by George Washington and Thomas Jefferson—dumped around three feet across the region, making it one of the Mid-Atlantic’s most remarkable early events.
Record-shattering warmth last year pushed temperatures to 80 degrees—the earliest such reading on record—while the date also recalls 2011’s infamous “Commutageddon” snowstorm that stranded thousands.
A surprise 2000 snowstorm dumped over 9 inches in the city and up to 18 inches regionally after forecasts missed it, while a 2026 event brought “snowcrete” that lingered for weeks amid intense cold.
The epic 2016 “Snowzilla” blizzard delivered over a foot in a day and nearly 18 inches total in the city—more than 30 inches in some suburbs—ranking among the region’s all-time great storms.
A 2014 storm set a daily snowfall record in the city while heavier totals piled up to the north and west as temperatures dropped and snow turned powdery.
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.
