The 5 Biggest Snowstorms to Hit Washington, D.C. – All-Time Records!
Washington, D.C. doesn’t get buried in snow very often, but when it does, the city basically shuts down! Snowstorms here can bring chaos, school closures, and epic sledding—but some have been truly historic. Here are the top 5 biggest snowstorms in D.C. history, ranked by total snowfall (from official National Weather Service records). These blizzards left deep drifts, closed roads, and even changed the city forever.
- The Knickerbocker Storm – January 27–29, 1922
Snowfall: 28 inches (official D.C. total)
Why it’s #1: This is still the all-time record for the most snow in Washington, D.C. The storm paralyzed the city—cars, streetcars, and trains stopped moving.
Tragic fact: The roof of the Knickerbocker Theater collapsed under the weight. It remains one of the deadliest weather disasters in D.C. history.
Kid-friendly note: Imagine snow taller than you—people dug tunnels through the streets! - The Great Blizzard of 1899 – February 11–14, 1899
Snowfall: 20 inches in D.C. (but drifts over 6 feet in some spots!)
Why it’s huge: Part of the “Great Arctic Outbreak,” it brought bone-chilling cold (−15°F in D.C.!). The Potomac River froze solid—people walked across it!
Fun fact for kids: It was so cold that the Chesapeake Bay froze, and ships were trapped in ice for weeks! - Presidents’ Day Blizzard – February 18–19, 1979
Snowfall: 18–20 inches (official 18.7 inches at Reagan National Airport)
Why it’s memorable: The storm hit on Presidents’ Day weekend—perfect timing for chaos! Winds over 40 mph created huge drifts.
Kid-friendly note: Kids got an extra-long weekend—some schools were closed for a week! - The Blizzard of 1983 (Super Bowl Sunday Blizzard) – February 10–11, 1983
Snowfall: 16.4 inches in 24 hours (single-day record) + total around 22–24 inches
Why it’s famous: One of the fastest, heaviest dumps ever—16.4 inches fell in one day!
Fun fact: It happened right before the Super Bowl—lots of people were snowed in watching TV instead of going to parties! - Snowmageddon / Snowpocalypse – February 5–6, 2010
Snowfall: 17.8–20 inches (Reagan National recorded 17.8 inches)
Why it’s legendary: This massive storm shut down the entire D.C. area for days—airports closed, Metro stopped, and the city looked like a winter wonderland.
Kid-friendly note: Kids built snow forts taller than grown-ups and had the best snow days ever!
- Biggest ever: Knickerbocker Storm (1922) – 28 inches
- Most dramatic: 1899 Blizzard – insane cold + frozen rivers
- Most fun for kids: Snowmageddon (2010) – epic snow days and snowmen everywhere!
- Modern record single-day: 16.4 inches in 1983
