On this day in 1771, one of the worst floods in Virginia’s history was nearing its peak. Called “the greatest flood ever known in Virginia” by Thomas Jefferson, it affected areas from Florida to Massachusetts. Northern Virginia, including the Shenandoah River, was impacted by the flood, but Central Virginia was hit hardest, particularly areas just east of Richmond. A detailed account of the event, which was blamed for 150 deaths and great economic losses, can be found in this article: “The Great Flood of 1771: An Explanation of Natural Causes and Social Effects.”
And on this day in 1953, radioactive hail was documented in D.C. The hail, as large as softballs (and the largest on record in D.C.), was tested for radioactivity given knowledge that there had been a nuclear test about 29 hours before the thunderstorm over the Nevada desert. High altitude winds were steering air from this region toward D.C. Scientists melted a large hailstone that fell in Suitland, Maryland and found that the radioactivity was higher than the normal background level.
Here are other notables from this day:
- Average high: 79
- Average low: 61
- Record high: 96 (1880)
- Record low: 42 (1899)
- Record rainfall: 1.65 inches (2009)
