On this day in 1984, a calendar-day record 3.6 inches of snow fell. It fell after 1.8 inches just two days earlier amid a wintry stretch that began on Jan. 15 and ended on Jan. 23. Low temperatures dropped into the single digits on three consecutive days Jan. 20 to Jan. 22.
“The Washington area was ambushed by an unexpectedly heavy snowstorm during morning rush hour yesterday that buried the region up to eight inches of snow, catching commuters and many school officials by surprise and shutting down schools, offices, department stores, airport runways, and even telephone service in some areas,” the front page of The Washington Post reported.
Here are other notables for the day:
- Average high: 44
- Average low: 30
- Record high: 69 (1990)
- Record low: minus-6 (1893)
- Record precipitation: 1.30 inches (1980)
- Record snowfall: 3.6 inches (1984)
