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Measuring up: Capital region’s snow almanac

Dave Dildine | ddildine@wtop.com

November 12, 2015, 1:04 AM

Snowfall in December 2009 was well above average. It was the snowiest December on record in Washington thanks to a snowstorm on the third weekend of the month. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
Snowfall in December 2009 was well above average. It was the snowiest December on record in Washington thanks to a snowstorm on the third weekend of the month. Data provided by the National Weather Service in Sterling, Virginia. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
WTOP/Dave Dildine
Snowfall in January 2010 was above average. A snowstorm during the final weekend of the month produced more snow than expected. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
Snowfall in January 2010 was above average. A snowstorm during the final weekend of the month produced more snow than expected. Data provided by the National Weather Service in Sterling, Virginia. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
WTOP/Dave Dildine
Snowfall in February 2010 was well above average. It was the second snowiest February on record in Washington (second to February 1899) thanks to two powerful snowstorms at the beginning of the month. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
Snowfall in February 2010 was well above average. It was the second snowiest February on record in Washington (second to February 1899) thanks to two powerful snowstorms at the beginning of the month. Data provided by the National Weather Service in Sterling, Virginia. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
WTOP/Dave Dildine
Snowfall in December 2010 was around the monthly average. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
Snowfall in December 2010 was around the monthly average. Data provided by the National Weather Service in Sterling, Virginia. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
WTOP/Dave Dildine
Snowfall in January 2011 was above average. A heavy burst of sleet and snow occurred during the afternoon commute on January 26. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
Snowfall in January 2011 was above average. A heavy burst of sleet and snow occurred during the afternoon commute on January 26. Data provided by the National Weather Service in Sterling, Virginia. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
WTOP/Dave Dildine
Snowfall in February 2011 was well below average. The average temperature was 2.8 degrees above average. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
Snowfall in February 2011 was well below average. The average temperature was 2.8 degrees above average. Data provided by the National Weather Service in Sterling, Virginia. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
WTOP/Dave Dildine
Snowfall in March 2011 was below average. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
Snowfall in March 2011 was below average. Data provided by the National Weather Service in Sterling, Virginia. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
WTOP/Dave Dildine
Only a trace of snow was observed during December 2011. The average temperature was well above average. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
Only a trace of snow was observed during December 2011. The average temperature was well above average. Data provided by the National Weather Service in Sterling, Virginia. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
WTOP/Dave Dildine
Snowfall in January 2012 was well below average. The average temperature was well above average. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
Snowfall in January 2012 was well below average. The average temperature was well above average. Data provided by the National Weather Service in Sterling, Virginia. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
WTOP/Dave Dildine
Snowfall in February 2012 was well below average. The average temperature was well above average. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
Snowfall in February 2012 was well below average. The average temperature was well above average. At just 2 inches, the seasonal snow total was the third lowest on record. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
WTOP/Dave Dildine
Snowfall in December 2012 was well below average. The average temperature was nearly six degrees above average. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
Snowfall in December 2012 was well below average. The average temperature was nearly six degrees above average. Data provided by the National Weather Service in Sterling, Virginia. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
WTOP/Dave Dildine
Snowfall in January 2013 was well below average. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
Snowfall in January 2013 was well below average. Data provided by the National Weather Service in Sterling, Virginia. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
WTOP/Dave Dildine
Snowfall in February 2013 was well below average. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
Snowfall in February 2013 was well below average. Data provided by the National Weather Service in Sterling, Virginia. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
WTOP/Dave Dildine
Snowfall in March 2013 was around the monthly average. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
Snowfall in March 2013 was around the monthly average. Data provided by the National Weather Service in Sterling, Virginia. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
WTOP/Dave Dildine
Snowfall in December 2013 was slightly below average. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
Snowfall in December 2013 was slightly below average. Data provided by the National Weather Service in Sterling, Virginia. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
WTOP/Dave Dildine
Snowfall in January 2014 was slightly above average. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
Snowfall in January 2014 was slightly above average. Data provided by the National Weather Service in Sterling, Virginia. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
WTOP/Dave Dildine
Snowfall in February 2014 was well above average. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
Snowfall in February 2014 was well above average. Data provided by the National Weather Service in Sterling, Virginia. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
WTOP/Dave Dildine
Snowfall in March 2014 was well above average. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
Snowfall in March 2014 was well above average. Data provided by the National Weather Service in Sterling, Virginia. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
WTOP/Dave Dildine
Only a trace of snow was observed during December 2014. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
Only a trace of snow was observed during December 2014. Data provided by the National Weather Service in Sterling, Virginia. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
WTOP/Dave Dildine
Snowfall in January 2015 was slightly below average. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
Snowfall in January 2015 was slightly below average. Data provided by the National Weather Service in Sterling, Virginia. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
WTOP/Dave Dildine
Snowfall in February 2015 was above average. It was a cold month; the average temperature was about nine degrees below average. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
Snowfall in February 2015 was above average. It was a cold month; the average temperature was about nine degrees below average. Data provided by the National Weather Service in Sterling, Virginia. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
WTOP/Dave Dildine
Snowfall in March 2015 was above average. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
Snowfall in March 2015 was above average. Data provided by the National Weather Service in Sterling, Virginia. (Dave Dildine/WTOP)
Dave Dildine/WTOP
No snow fell in December 2015; one of only seven snow-less Decembers on record in Washington. December 2015 was also the warmest December on record. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
No snow fell in December 2015; one of only seven snow-less Decembers on record in Washington. December 2015 was also the warmest December on record. Data provided by the National Weather Service in Sterling, Virginia. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
WTOP/Dave Dildine
Snowfall in January 2016 was well above average. A blizzard on the 22nd and 23rd produced one and a half to three feet of snow throughout the region. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
Snowfall in January 2016 was well above average. A blizzard on the 22nd and 23rd produced one and a half to three feet of snow throughout the region. Data provided by the National Weather Service in Sterling, Virginia. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
WTOP/Dave Dildine
Snowfall in February 2016 was below average. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
Snowfall in February 2016 was below average. Data provided by the National Weather Service in Sterling, Virginia. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
WTOP/Dave Dildine
Snowfall in March 2016 was below average. According to the National Weather Service, it was the fourth warmest March on record. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
Snowfall in March 2016 was below average. According to the National Weather Service, it was the fourth warmest March on record. Data provided by the National Weather Service in Sterling, Virginia. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
WTOP/Dave Dildine
December 2016 snowfall. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
December 2016 snowfall. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
WTOP/Dave Dildine
January 2017 snow. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
January 2017 snow. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
WTOP/Dave Dildine
February 2017 snow. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
WTOP/Dave Dildine
March 2017 snow. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
March 2017 snow. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
WTOP/Dave Dildine
December 2017 snow. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
December 2017 snow. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
WTOP/Dave Dildine
January 2018 snow. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
January 2018 snow. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
WTOP/Dave Dildine
February 2018 snow. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
February 2018 snow. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
WTOP/Dave Dildine
March 2018 snow. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
March 2018 snow. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
WTOP/Dave Dildine
November 2018 snow. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
November 2018 snow. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
WTOP/Dave Dildine
(1/35)
Snowfall in December 2009 was well above average. It was the snowiest December on record in Washington thanks to a snowstorm on the third weekend of the month. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
Snowfall in January 2010 was above average. A snowstorm during the final weekend of the month produced more snow than expected. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
Snowfall in February 2010 was well above average. It was the second snowiest February on record in Washington (second to February 1899) thanks to two powerful snowstorms at the beginning of the month. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
Snowfall in December 2010 was around the monthly average. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
Snowfall in January 2011 was above average. A heavy burst of sleet and snow occurred during the afternoon commute on January 26. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
Snowfall in February 2011 was well below average. The average temperature was 2.8 degrees above average. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
Snowfall in March 2011 was below average. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
Only a trace of snow was observed during December 2011. The average temperature was well above average. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
Snowfall in January 2012 was well below average. The average temperature was well above average. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
Snowfall in February 2012 was well below average. The average temperature was well above average. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
Snowfall in December 2012 was well below average. The average temperature was nearly six degrees above average. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
Snowfall in January 2013 was well below average. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
Snowfall in February 2013 was well below average. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
Snowfall in March 2013 was around the monthly average. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
Snowfall in December 2013 was slightly below average. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
Snowfall in January 2014 was slightly above average. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
Snowfall in February 2014 was well above average. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
Snowfall in March 2014 was well above average. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
Only a trace of snow was observed during December 2014. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
Snowfall in January 2015 was slightly below average. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
Snowfall in February 2015 was above average. It was a cold month; the average temperature was about nine degrees below average. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
Snowfall in March 2015 was above average. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
No snow fell in December 2015; one of only seven snow-less Decembers on record in Washington. December 2015 was also the warmest December on record. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
Snowfall in January 2016 was well above average. A blizzard on the 22nd and 23rd produced one and a half to three feet of snow throughout the region. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
Snowfall in February 2016 was below average. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
Snowfall in March 2016 was below average. According to the National Weather Service, it was the fourth warmest March on record. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
December 2016 snowfall. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
January 2017 snow. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
March 2017 snow. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
December 2017 snow. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
January 2018 snow. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
February 2018 snow. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
March 2018 snow. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)
November 2018 snow. (WTOP/Dave Dildine)

WASHINGTON — A Washington D.C. winter rarely sees 15.4 inches of snow, but that’s the city’s average annual snowfall. Washingtonians are more used to the two extremes: scarcely any, or way too much.

The mammoth snowstorms during the winter of 2009-2010 led to the region’s snowiest winter of all time. Since Snowmageddon, three winters have ended in above average snow for the District. The other three came to a close with just a few slushy inches on the books. The winter of 2011-2012 was one of the least snowy winters on record.

Most of D.C.’s snowfall occurs in late January and early February. The city averages 5.6 inches of snow in January and 5.7 inches in February. During these two months, locals can expect about three to six snowfalls.

For more information the region’s blockbuster snowstorms, see Measuring up: A look back at the region’s snowiest winters.

Editor’s Note: This gallery has been updated through November 2018.

Dave Dildine

A native to the Washington area, Dave Dildine is no stranger to the region's complex traffic and weather patterns. Dave joined WTOP in 2010 when the station launched its very own in-house traffic service. You can hear him "on the 8s and when it breaks" from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays.

ddildine@wtop.com

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