On this day in 2016, the blizzard, named Snowzilla by Capital Weather Gang readers, delivered one of the most memorable snowstorms in Washington’s modern history — a high-impact, high-confidence event that lived up to its billing.
On Jan. 23 alone, the storm dumped a calendar-day record 11.3 inches of snow. The day before, 6.5 inches had already fallen, resulting in a storm total of 17.8 inches at Reagan National Airport — tied as the fourth greatest snowstorm on record in Washington. It may have been higher, but the official weather observer lost the snow measuring board during the storm. Totals climbed significantly with elevation and distance from DC, exceeding 30 inches in parts of the region’s far western suburbs.
Snowzilla developed as a powerful coastal storm that tapped deep Atlantic moisture while cold air was firmly in place across the Mid-Atlantic. Capital Weather Gang coverage highlighted how a nearly ideal setup — strong upper-level energy, a well-timed phase of northern and southern stream systems, and a slow-moving surface low — allowed heavy snow bands to repeatedly pivot over the region. At times, snowfall rates reached 2 to 3 inches per hour, quickly overwhelming efforts to keep roads passable.
The storm also brought significant wind. Gusts of 30 to 50 mph created near-blizzard or blizzard conditions at times, especially on Jan. 23, with blowing and drifting snow reducing visibility and piling snow into deep drifts. Travel became nearly impossible, and the region effectively shut down. Airports closed, rail and bus service were suspended, and the federal government remained closed for multiple days.
Despite its severity, Snowzilla was notable for its predictability. Days in advance, forecasts consistently signaled a major storm, allowing residents and officials to prepare. Even so, the sheer scale of the snowfall made recovery a prolonged effort. Side streets remained snow-covered for days, and towering piles of plowed snow lingered well into February.
Here are numerous stories from the archives on that epic storm:
- Remembering Snowzilla, which buried the D.C. region in 15-30 inches of snow
- From 2020: During ‘Snowzilla’ four years ago today, D.C. looked like this
- 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)
Here are other notables for the day:
- Average high: 45
- Average low: 30
- Record high: 72 (1974)
- Record low: 0 (1936)
- Record precipitation: 1.79 inches (1998)
- Record snowfall: 11.3 inches (2016)
