On this date in 1928, a tornado that was 102 yards wide tore across Hains Point in the District. It was on the ground for a mile and destroyed 11 aircraft at Bolling Field. The front page of The Washington Post reported that the storm injured seven people and caused over $300,000 in damage. It said the “thunder squall” originated in Northern Virginia, where it blew down scores of trees and produced a hailstorm that caused “considerable damage.”
And on this date in 1990, a calendar-day record 2.19 inches of rain fell in D.C. as severe thunderstorms swept across the region.
“Waves of thunderstorms tore through the region yesterday evening, with sheets of rain, streaks of lightning and powerful winds that flooded roads, toppled trees and knocked out power temporarily to 62,000 homes,” The Post reported the next day.
Here are other notables from this day:
- Average high: 83
- Average low: 66
- Record high: 102 (2011)
- Record low: 45 (1913)
- Record rainfall: 2.19 inches (1990)
