Sunday’s snowstorm in D.C. was remarkable, not only because of how much snow we got but because the combo of cold temps and sleet means it has caused far more chaos than initially expected. But, it still doesn’t hold a candle to some of D.C.’s biggest storms.
The 1912 Arctic Freeze
One of the coldest D.C. winters on record was the 1912 arctic freeze that plunged temperatures to 13 degrees below zero. The cold wave lasted 42 days, freezing over the Tidal Basin.
This was a rare treat because it created totally smooth ice — perfect for skating. To keep people’s spirits up and minds off their frozen toes, the city hosted an ice carnival. They constructed a bandstand, hung lights, and prepped the ice. More than 15,000 people arrived to skate. It was such a success that it inspired plans to build an ice rink on the Mall.
The Knickerbocker Theatre from the outside after the collapse of the roof. (Library of Congress/Public Domain)
1922 Knickerbocker Storm
At the end of January, a blizzard dumped 28 inches of snowfall on the city within a few hours. Tragically, the snow caused the roof of the Knickerbocker Theater in Adams Morgan to collapse while an unsuspecting audience watched a silent movie inside. The accident killed 98 people and injured another 133.
By morning, there were 600 police officers, soldiers, and firefighters on the scene. Residents provided food and coffee for rescuers and blankets for the injured. Despite these efforts, it became the deadliest accident in D.C. history.
Farmers drive tractors up 14th St. and make a left on Independence Ave., 1979. (The Washington Post/Getty Images)
President’s Day Storm of 1979
In February, a fast-hitting, poorly forecasted snowstorm paralyzed the DMV, dropping nearly two feet of snow on the city. Coincidentally, a huge group of farmers had travelled to protest low wages in D.C. just before the storm hit and used their tractors to help dig the city out and get emergency personnel to hospitals. They became known as the "Tractor Army."
T Street, N.W. during the 2010 “Snowmegeddon” storm. (dbking/Wikimedia Commons)
Snowmageddon 2010
The most severe snowstorm in recent history — and the District's fourth largest ever recorded — happened 16 years ago. D.C. got two feet of snow in a single day, a period that would later be dubbed “Snowmageddon.”
More than 200,000 homes and businesses went out of power, all airports were closed and the federal government was forced to close for nearly a week. But on the upside, the sledding was the best it's ever been … not something we got to see as much this weekend.
