RodneyS

The 2024-25 astronomical and composite winters were each much cooler than last season at DCA. The former averaged 41.1 degrees, tied for the 29th warmest in DC history and down 4.1 from last year; while the latter averaged 41.3 degrees, tied for the 27th warmest in DC history and down 3.8 from last year.

Are you saying that because you can recall April 1938, Roger? Actually, there was only a trace of snow in DC then, after an average March temperature of 49.8 degrees. However, I can recall a stunning Mid-Atlantic turnaround that occurred much more recently. March 1990 at DCA averaged 50.2 degrees, and featured these maximums during March 12-16: 89/87/86/81/81. The Mid-Atlantic winter was over, right? Not so fast. During March 20-April 7, 1990, BWI received 2.8 inches of snow, DCA received 2.6 inches, RIC received 0.2 inches, and IAD received -- would you believe -- 10.4 inches? Moreover, each airport received measurable snow on either April 6th or 7th, with IAD checking in at 2.7 inches on the 6th and 1.1 inches on the 7th.

The Capital Weather Gang has declared winter over in DC, and they have a good track record of not doing so until the last measurable snow has fallen in these parts; see https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2025/03/10/winter-over-spring-starts-dc. While I will not award the 2024-25 trophy until at least April 1st, things are looking good for @HighStakes. Even if a little more snow falls at any of the four airports, it will likely be at BWI or IAD, where he can still improve. @southmdwatcherhas some hope, but only if RIC can eke out at least 0.3 inches, with little or no snow at the other three airports. Under a 0.3 at RIC and zero at the other three airports scenario, he, HighStakes and @mattie g would each finish with a departure of 10.6, and he would win a three-way tiebreaker. However, the far more likely scenario is a two-way tie between HighStakes and mattie g, with HighStakes winning the tiebreaker with his closer forecast at SBY.

DCA _ NYC _ BOS __ ORD _ ATL _ IAH __ DEN _ PHX _ SEA 0.4 0.7 0.6 1.1 -0.4 2.1 0.5 -0.3 -0.2

February 2025 at DCA ended warm, bringing the average temperature to 41.0 degrees -- tied for the 34th warmest February in DC history. That brought the 2024-25 meteorological winter (December, January, and February) average to 39.0 degrees -- tied for the 43rd warmest in DC history. Nonetheless, the 2024-25 DCA meteorological winter was the coldest in 10 years -- surpassing every winter for cold since the 2014-15 winter averaged 36.7 degrees. The historical average for all 154 DC winters since recordkeeping began in 1871-72 is 37.1 degrees.

FYI, each of the four airports recorded only a trace of snow today. However, I am updating the table to show that -- barring corrections to the snow totals -- two more contestants have been eliminated from contention, to bring that total to 50 (in red), leaving only 19 who still have a chance to win. Most stunningly, I have determined that co-leader @mattie g has bitten the dust. Why is that? Because while he could still finish in a first-place tie with @HighStakes, he would lose the tiebreaker based on his forecast of 8.6 inches of snow at Salisbury (SBY) vs High Stake's forecast of 10.8 inches there. Because SBY has already recorded 17.8 inches this season, mattie g is history -- just as the other 49 of us are.

Thanks - - see updated table below, which also includes another 0.1 at DCA:

We have a new leader, as RIC has already recorded 2.0 inches today. That puts @mattie gin first place, with @HighStakesa big threat to move into a tie before day's end and @southmdwatcherlurking if RIC records several more inches.

Yes, and this season may make it 15 times. By the way, the largest amount by which DCA snow exceeded BWI snow was 5.5 inches in 1979-80 -- 20.1 inches at DCA, 14.6 at BWI. On the other hand, the largest amount by which BWI snow exceeded DCA snow was 20.9 inches in 2009-10 -- 77.0 inches at BWI and 56.1 inches at DCA. Both totals were record-breakers for any year in Baltimore and DC dating back to the 1880s, and the BWI total even exceeded IAD's record-breaking total of 73.2 inches that memorable snow season 15 years ago.

DCA became the official DC weather location in July 1945, and BWI began operations in June 1950. Thus, winter season comparisons between the two airports begin in 1950-51, and so there are now 74 winter season comparisons in the books. During those 74 seasons, DCA has averaged 15.5 inches of snow, and BWI has averaged 19.8 inches, with BWI snow exceeding DCA snow 58 times, DCA snow exceeding BWI snow 14 times, and two seasons ending in a tie.

Thanks. What I was going by was Wednesday's daily report for DCA issued at 12:35 AM this morning, which may be found at "Observed Weather" "Daily Climate Report" for "Washington-National" at https://www.weather.gov/wrh/Climate?wfo=lwx. The newest version is currently for Thursday, but you can find the 12:35 AM version for Wednesday by clicking "2" at the top (in blue). It's head-scratching how these contradictions occur, but you are correct that the snow total for yesterday is now back up to 0.5 inches. The below table reflects that change for DCA:

The DCA measuring gurus have helped you and a number of other folks by revising downward yesterday's snow total there from 0.5 to 0.3 inches. It would be interesting to know how these revisions come about -- perhaps some of the gurus don't realize that you are not supposed to take snow away from the measuring location to make a snowman? In any event, here is the slightly revised leaderboard, subject to further revisions without warning. P.S. I have listed in red all of the unfortunates who have been eliminated . . . whoops, that includes me.

Don't shortchange yourself, @snowfan -- you are currently 12th. Unfortunately, because you have all negative departures, your chance of winning are the same as mine and 38 others -- zero.

You aren't out yet, @nw baltimore wx. Your only negative departure is DCA, but the entrants ahead of you aren't doing well there either, and so if you nailed the other three airports you would win.

Apparently RIC did receive only 1.0 inch in this storm. However, I was 0.1 over the total at IAD, and so this revision corrects that. Quite a shakeup on the leaderboard, with some unexpected contenders this season. Yes, @Roger Smith, I say that with you in mind. Now, if @George BM gets into contention, @Jebmanwill be wondering why he did not enter.