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DC weather history for December 20

A frigid 1942 day brought snow and near-record cold, while a brief cold snap in 2004 quickly gave way to a sharp warmup just days later.

On this day in 1942, 3.7 inches of snow fell and the high was only 21 degrees after a morning record low of 5. A record low would be set the next day, too, when the temperature tumbled to 4 degrees. 

On this day in 2004, the high was only 24 and the low was 11. But the cold wasn’t sustained. Two days later it hit 60 degrees.

Here are other notables for this day:

Dec 19 Full calendar Dec 21
Jason Samenow

Jason Samenow

Chief meteorologist, journalist, and Capital Weather founder. AMS Certified Digital Meteorologist and D.C.-area native.

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