When Does It Start Snowing in Washington D.C.?

In Washington D.C., snowfall typically begins in late November and can continue through March, with the heaviest snowfalls usually occurring in January and February. However, the exact timing and amount of snow can vary significantly from year to year due to changing weather patterns. Some winters may see snow as early as October or as late as April, but these instances are less common.

Historical Snow Patterns and My Personal Experiences

I grew up in Washington D.C. and the climate there was similar to that of my current home in St. Louis, Missouri. D.C. was built partially on a swamp plain, while St. Louis is in a river valley. Both are in places where air currents stall over the cities in the summer, producing hot, sticky, humid, and miserable summers.

Winters in D.C. are variable, with some years seeing little or no snow at all, and others seeing heavy snows. A reliable white Christmas is not guaranteed in either city. I was away from D.C. during the 1979 blizzard, which is considered the heaviest snowstorm in modern memory for the city. The heaviest snowfall I remember occurred in the early 1970s, though it’s not listed among the worst snowstorms. Snowdrifts up to the roofs of parked cars were not uncommon during this event.

However, most D.C. winters were mild, and if there was any snow, it usually didn’t last long. The infamous blizzard of 1987 stands out, during which snowplows failed to clear the snow. At that time, Mayor Marion Barry was in California playing golf in 68-degree weather, and stayed there even as Super Bowl XXI was being played between New York and Denver. Barry later claimed a hiatal hernia and cited the harsh snow conditions as reasons for his prolonged absence, though it emerged later that he had collapsed from smoking crack cocaine. Upon his return to the city, Barry toured the snow from a helicopter, giving a further impression of being out-of-touch with the reality of a snowlogged city.

In 1990, Mayor Marion Barry was busted for cocaine by the FBI and D.C. police in a sting operation, further adding to the city’s scandal-ridden history.