DC’s relationship with snow is complicated. The region sits near the climatological rain–snow line, meaning truly major snowstorms are rare. But when they happen, they have enormous impacts.
These storms share common traits: strong coastal systems, abundant moisture, and enough cold air locked in place to avoid mixing with significant amounts of rain or sleet. When those ingredients come together, blockbuster snowstorms unfold — paralyzing travel, closing the federal government, and reshaping daily life across the region for days or even weeks.
Below are the 10 biggest snowstorms on record in DC, with a look back at what it meant for the region.
1) January 27–29, 1922 — 28.0 inches, Knickerbocker storm
The benchmark by which all DC snowstorms are measured. Over three days, nearly 28 inches buried the city. Drifts reached several feet, transportation shut down, and daily life ground to a halt. The storm is inseparable from the tragic collapse of the Knickerbocker Theatre roof under the weight of snow, killing 98 people — one of the deadliest weather-related disasters in U.S. history. More than a century later, no storm has surpassed its snowfall total.
Read more coverage about the Knickerbocker storm at these links:
- How the Knickerbocker snowstorm became D.C.’s deadliest disaster
- Remembering the 100th anniversary of Washington’s Knickerbocker theater disaster
- Knickerbocker snowstorm short stories
- The Knickerbocker snowstorm: Inside insights on D.C.’s deadliest disaster
- 98 people died in the Knickerbocker collapse. Courts never found whom to blame.
- The crushing Knickerbocker snowstorm and rise of The Washington Post’s John Jay Daly
- Knickerbocker stories: The story of Agnes Mellon
- Knickerbocker stories: The story
- of David Lyman Jr.
- Knickerbocker stories: The final performance and Ernesto Natiello
- Haunting faces, scenes and stories from the Knickerbocker Theater roof crash
2) February 11–14, 1899 — 20.5 inches, Snow King
This storm struck during the infamous Great Arctic Outbreak of 1899, one of the coldest periods ever recorded in the eastern United States. More than 20 inches of snow fell in DC, followed by brutal cold that froze rivers and locked the snowpack in place for weeks. Transportation was crippled, commerce slowed dramatically, and daily life became a struggle in an era before modern heating and snow removal.
Some refer to the 1899 blizzard as “the Snow King,” because it produced record snows from central Virginia to Connecticut, including 34 inches in Cape May, New Jersey.
The pairing of deep snow and extreme cold makes 1899 one of the most punishing winter episodes in DC's history.
3) February 18–19, 1979 — 18.7 inches, Presidents’ Day Storm
Often remembered as the Presidents’ Day Storm, this poorly-predicted event dumped nearly 19 inches of snow in a relatively short time, catching commuters off guard and paralyzing the region. Roads quickly became impassable, thousands of vehicles were abandoned, and cleanup lagged well behind accumulation. The storm’s timing amplified its impact, stranding workers and shutting down businesses across the metro area. Even decades later, it’s frequently cited as one of the most disruptive snowstorms of the modern era in DC.
4) January 22–23, 2016 — 17.8 inches, Snowzilla
The blizzard, named Snowzilla, delivered a prolonged period of heavy snow and fierce winds. Snow fell steadily for more than a day, with rates topping 2 inches per hour at times. The slow-moving storm allowed totals to climb relentlessly, shutting down airports, closing the federal government, and enforcing travel bans across the region. Neighborhood streets remained buried for days, and the cleanup effort stretched well into the following week. Snowzilla stands as the defining snowstorm of the 2010s in DC.
Here are numerous stories on that epic storm:
- Remembering Snowzilla, which buried the D.C. region in 15-30 inches of snow
- How much snow fell from Snowzilla in the D.C. area, in detail
- The nuts and bolts meteorology of an epic snowstorm in Washington, D.C.
- Snowzilla makes history from Northern Virginia to New York
- The forecast for Snowzilla was stellar in almost every way
- The 12 best meteorological images of the Blizzard of 2016
- In too deep: The craziest snow depths and drifts from Snowzilla
- The most ridiculous and awesome things we saw during Snowzilla
- Photos: The most artistic and magical scenes from Snowzilla
- Photos: Snowzilla’s gloriously deserted roads
- Photos: “Bench” marks show Snowzilla ranks among the top D.C. snowstorms
- Washington, D.C., landmarks in the Blizzard of 2016 (Photos)
4) February 5–6, 2010 — 17.8 inches, Snowmageddon
The first of the two crushing storms, Snowmageddon slammed the region with heavy, wet snow that snapped tree limbs, caused scattered power outages, and made travel nearly impossible. Federal offices closed for multiple days, and plowing operations were overwhelmed. What made this storm especially memorable was what followed: another major snowstorm just days later, named "Snoverkill." Together, they turned February 2010 into one of the most snowbound periods in DC history.
Here are some articles from the archive about the storm which contain some jaw-dropping visuals:
- Remembering 2010’s Snowmageddon in 10 images and scenes
- Ten years later, the enormity of Snowmageddon is still difficult to comprehend
- Memories of Snowmageddon are still fresh a decade later
- Snowmageddon, five years later: The first of two Mid-Atlantic blizzards in February 2010
6) January 6–8, 1996 — 17.1 inches, Blizzard of 1996
The Blizzard of 1996 brought heavy snow, strong winds, and significant drifting across DC. More than 17 inches fell at Reagan National Airport with more than two feet in some areas west and north of the Beltway. Roads were treacherous, and schools and businesses closed. Two more snow events followed the blizzard, prolonging recovery.
Additional reading on the storm:
- Whiteout: 30 Years Later, Look Back at the Historic Blizzard of 1996 (Northern Virginia magazine)
- The Blizzard of ‘96 in Retrospect (National Weather Service)
7) February 15–18, 2003 — 16.7 inches, Presidents’ Day II Snowstorm
This storm was the second major snowfall of an exceptionally active February, compounding the region’s misery after an earlier event. Nearly 17 inches piled up, overwhelming snow removal efforts and closing schools and businesses for days. With snow already on the ground and cold air in place, impacts were magnified. For many, the winter of 2002–03 is remembered not for one storm, but for the cumulative effect of repeated heavy snowfalls.
8) February 11–12, 1983 — 16.6 inches, the Megalopolitan Blizzard
Another Presidents’ Day–season classic, this storm dumped more than 16 inches across D.C., snarling travel and shutting down daily life. Snow fell fast enough to overwhelm road crews, and cold temperatures helped it linger. While it lacks a catchy nickname, the 1983 storm ranks among the most significant of the late 20th century and is often mentioned alongside 1979, 1996, and 2003 as one of the capital’s defining snow events.
9) December 18–19, 2009 — 16.4 inches, Snowpocalypse
Known as Snowpocalypse, this storm struck just before Christmas, amplifying its impact. More than 16 inches of snow fell, grounding flights, closing major roads, and stranding holiday travelers. Neighborhoods struggled to dig out, and the storm set the stage for the blockbuster events that followed in February 2010.
10) February 7, 1936 — 14.4 inches (tie)
A major one-day snowfall in the pre-modern era, the 1936 storm dropped more than 14 inches on a city with limited snow-clearing capabilities. Streets were clogged for days, and transit disruptions were widespread. Though its total is modest compared with the all-time giants, the storm’s impacts were severe by the standards of the time, earning it a lasting place among DC’s biggest snowfalls.
10) February 15–16, 1958 — 14.4 inches (tie)
Tied with 1936, the 1958 storm delivered a substantial mid-February blow, shutting down schools and businesses and leaving much of the region digging out for days. Cold air helped preserve the snowpack, prolonging impacts. In a city where many storms mix with rain or sleet, a clean 14-inch snowfall is enough to become a generational memory — and this one did just that.
