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Our region's extreme run


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The two-year seasonal record minimum amount of snow in DC is actually 1996-97 and 1997-98, which saw 6.8 inches of snow. So, DCA must receive at least 3.3 inches of snow during the rest of this season to avoid the last two seasons setting the all-time record for snow futility.

That period overall was wetter and colder than the last two seasons. Another nail in the bogus "wet/warm cold/dry" cliche.

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That period overall was wetter and colder than the last two seasons. Another nail in the bogus "wet/warm cold/dry" cliche.

Much wetter, but only slightly colder. The two consecutive meteorological winters 1996-97 and 1997-98 at DCA averaged 42.0 degrees and 11.45 inches of precipitation. The two most recent meteorological winters there averaged 42.3 degrees and 8.32 inches of precipitation.
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February 2013 appears to be finalized at 38.3 at DCA, making it 0.7 degrees below the 1981-2010 normal, and tied for the 56th warmest all-time. Quite a change from last February's 44.3, and enough to bring down the average 2012-13 meteorological winter temperature to 41.3, the 13th warmest. Last year's average meteorological winter temperature of 43.3 was the third warmest all-time, but DCA still managed to record half an inch more snow during December 2011 to February 2012 than during the last three months. Contrary to what you may think, however, the snow total of 3.5 inches during the last two meteorological winters does not break the all-time record. That honor still belongs to 1997-98 and 1998-99, which saw a total of only 3.0 inches of snow. Further, the meteorological winters of 1930-31 and 1931-32 also saw a total of only 3.5 inches of snow. However, March 1999 saw 8.7 inches of snow and March 1932 saw 4.0 inches. The two-year seasonal record minimum amount of snow in DC is actually 1996-97 and 1997-98, which saw 6.8 inches of snow. So, DCA must receive at least 3.3 inches of snow during the rest of this season to avoid the last two seasons setting the all-time record for snow futility.

Assuming that we've seen the last of snow for this season, DC beat the old record snow minimum for two consecutive seasons by 3.1 inches, and IAD (at 8.6 inches this season and 3.7 inches last season) beat the old record (set four years ago) by 2.2 inches. There is nonetheless a big difference between DCA's and IAD's 2012-13 snow seasons: DCA's displaces last season's as the third lowest of 129 DC snow seasons, whereas IAD's is only the ninth lowest of 51 snow seasons there.
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Assuming that we've seen the last of snow for this season, DC beat the old record snow minimum for two consecutive seasons by 3.1 inches, and IAD (at 8.6 inches this season and 3.7 inches last season) beat the old record (set four years ago) by 2.2 inches. There is nonetheless a big difference between DCA's and IAD's 2012-13 snow seasons: DCA's displaces last season's as the third lowest of 129 DC snow seasons, whereas IAD's is only the ninth lowest of 51 snow seasons there.

 

:underthewx:

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Heh, I was actually just planning to bump this thread...

 

I'm permanently done with ever tracking a winter storm again, but I will continue to track BWI heat and snow futility records on my webpage: anendlessmaze.blogspot.com

Thanks for the link, which inspired me to check the last three snow seasons at DCA and IAD. And, yes (again assuming that we're done for this season), they also easily broke the record low snow totals for three consecutive seasons: The new DC record for that period is 13.8 inches vs. the old record of 18.4 inches set 14 years ago, and the new IAD record is 24.9 inches vs. 29.2 inches set four years ago.
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  • 2 weeks later...

February 2013 appears to be finalized at 38.3 at DCA, making it 0.7 degrees below the 1981-2010 normal, and tied for the 56th warmest all-time. Quite a change from last February's 44.3, and enough to bring down the average 2012-13 meteorological winter temperature to 41.3, the 13th warmest.

Quite a difference between this year's and last year's astronomical winters (December 21st through March 20th) at DCA. Last year's average temperature of 45.9 degrees shattered the high record by 2.2 degrees. This year's average was only 40.4 degrees, still good enough for a tie for 29th on the all-time list, but 5.4 degrees below last year.
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Looks like DCA is finalized today at 1.4 inches, and so the 2-inch storm streak remains alive. However, the 1-inch or less in a single day streak ended today at 789 days.

 

More fodder for people to attack DCA. Not the same I guess since everyone else broke it at this pt probably.  Oh well.. I'll keep at it next winter. :P

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Assuming that we've seen the last of snow for this season, DC beat the old record snow minimum for two consecutive seasons by 3.1 inches, and IAD (at 8.6 inches this season and 3.7 inches last season) beat the old record (set four years ago) by 2.2 inches. There is nonetheless a big difference between DCA's and IAD's 2012-13 snow seasons: DCA's displaces last season's as the third lowest of 129 DC snow seasons, whereas IAD's is only the ninth lowest of 51 snow seasons there.

Incorrect assumption, and so here are the revised figures: DC still beat the old record snow minimum for two consecutive seasons, but only by 1.7 inches, and IAD now actually falls short of the two-year record minimum by 1.9 inches. So, at IAD, the record remains 14.5 inches during the winters of 2007-08 and 2008-09. DCA's 2012-13 snow total of 3.1 inches is the sixth lowest of 129 DC snow seasons, whereas IAD's 12.7 inches is the 13th lowest of 51 snow seasons.
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Correcting (in bold) a few figures above, as March finished at 56.8, and not 56.7.

Slight change this year, with March 2013 at DCA finishing at 43.8 degrees. The 13.0-degree decline equals the record set between 1946 and 1947, when the average temperature fell from 53.0 to 40.0. Perhaps the more interesting fact about March 2013 is that the average temperature was lower than December 2012's average of 45.3. The last time March was colder than the preceding December was 1959-60.
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Yesterday's snow total at BWI (3.2 inches) was a daily snowfall record for March 25. The previous record was 2.5 inches in 1933.

 

I have removed the snow futility records from my page as they no longer apply; however, I will leave up the heat records as a reference.

 

In checking this again... actually the overall snow futility here is still fairly impressive.

 

The two year seasonal snow total from 11/12 and 12/13 was 9.8", which is still the second lowest consecutive two season total ever. The record is 6.9" from 49/50 and 50/51.

 

The three year seasonal snow total from 10/11, 11/12 and 12/13 was 24.2", which is still the second lowest consecutive three season total ever. The record is 21" from 49/50, 50/51 and 51/52.

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The three year seasonal snow total from 10/11, 11/12 and 12/13 was 24.2", which is still the second lowest consecutive three season total ever. The record is 21" from 49/50, 50/51 and 51/52.

Both DCA and IAD beat their three consecutive season low snow totals.  At DCA, the most recent three seasons total 15.2 inches, compared with the previous record of 18.4 inches set in the three seasons ending in 1999.  And, at IAD, the most recent three seasons total 29.0 inches, compared with the record of 29.2 inches set in the three seasons ending in 2009.  So, at IAD, the previous three-year low total occurred immediately prior to the record 73.2 inches in 2009-10.  Therefore, with a new three-year low total established this year, numerology tells us that next year . . . that's correct -- will set a new four-year low. :cry:

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Both DCA and IAD beat their three consecutive season low snow totals.  At DCA, the most recent three seasons total 15.2 inches, compared with the previous record of 18.4 inches set in the three seasons ending in 1999.  And, at IAD, the most recent three seasons total 29.0 inches, compared with the record of 29.2 inches set in the three seasons ending in 2009.  So, at IAD, the previous three-year low total occurred immediately prior to the record 73.2 inches in 2009-10.  Therefore, with a new three-year low total established this year, numerology tells us that next year . . . that's correct -- will set a new four-year low. :cry:

 

This part actually got me thinking... what would it take for BWI to set a four year low? The lowest consecutive four year total ever is 32.8", from 49/50 to 52/53. This would mean BWI would have to get at least 8.7" total next year to not beat or tie the record. In other words... we have a fairly good chance at setting a four year snow futility record.

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Interesting contrast between the Reagan and Dulles Airport records today. Reagan hit 91, beating the old DC record by only two degrees, but that was the warmest temperature in DC this early in the season since April 6, 1942, when the old Weather Bureau station at 24th and M Streets recorded that same temperature. Dulles, on the other hand, hit 89, shattering the old record by 11 degrees, but that was the warmest temperature there this early in the season only since April 7, 2010, when 91 was recorded. Further, Dulles recorded 93 on April 6, 2010.

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  • 1 month later...

February 2013 appears to be finalized at 38.3 at DCA, making it 0.7 degrees below the 1981-2010 normal, and tied for the 56th warmest all-time. Quite a change from last February's 44.3, and enough to bring down the average 2012-13 meteorological winter temperature to 41.3, the 13th warmest. Last year's average meteorological winter temperature of 43.3 was the third warmest all-time . . .

May 2013 at DCA is finalized at 66.7 degrees, the 45th warmest of all-time, vs last year's 71.4 degrees, the 3rd warmest. This year's meteorological spring (March, April, and May) at DCA is finalized at 56.5 degrees, the 43rd warmest. That compares with last year's record-breaking spring average of 62.2 degrees. The 5.7 degree decline from one spring to the next is the second greatest in DC history, topped only by the 5.8 degree decline between 1991's 60.0 degrees and 1992's 54.2 degrees.
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February 2013 appears to be finalized at 38.3 at DCA, making it 0.7 degrees below the 1981-2010 normal, and tied for the 56th warmest all-time. Quite a change from last February's 44.3, and enough to bring down the average 2012-13 meteorological winter temperature to 41.3, the 13th warmest. Last year's average meteorological winter temperature of 43.3 was the third warmest all-time . . .

May 2013 at DCA is finalized at 66.7 degrees, the 45th warmest of all-time, vs last year's 71.4 degrees, the 3rd warmest. This year's meteorological spring (March, April, and May) at DCA is finalized at 56.5 degrees, the 43rd warmest. That compares with last year's record-breaking spring average of 62.2 degrees. The 5.7 degree decline from one spring to the next is the second greatest in DC history, topped only by the 5.8 degree decline between 1991's 60.0 degrees and 1992's 54.2 degrees.

 

 

Portions of this May had a brisk feel on some days, some folks would say those days felt harsh. 

Some folks out for a stroll had winter clothes on.  Nor meant to be a scientific comment, personally,

I found those cool days to be refreshing.

 

RodneyS.:   These temperature swings you are documenting can be random noise or can be a

signal of increased volatility.   Too soon to say.

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Portions of this May had a brisk feel on some days, some folks would say those days felt harsh. 

Some folks out for a stroll had winter clothes on.  Nor meant to be a scientific comment, personally,

I found those cool days to be refreshing.

 

RodneyS.:   These temperature swings you are documenting can be random noise or can be a

signal of increased volatility.   Too soon to say.

It's actually not surprising that, after last year's record warmth, this year would produce sharp declines. This year's May average of 66.7 is still 0.7 degrees above the 1981-2010 May average and 1.4 degrees above the historical (1871-2013) May average. And this year's spring average of 56.5 is only 0.1 degrees below the 1981-2010 spring average and 1.4 degrees above the historical spring average.
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  • 2 weeks later...

I know one June rainfall record that is never getting broken... IAD. That's an insane outlier. :o

 

I think thats the most rainfall at any of the 3 airports in any month ever, other than Aug. 1955 at BWI.

Correct, and it's interesting to note how much rainfall varies in this area during extreme tropical events.  Here are the all-time monthly precipitation records for any month in DC, Baltimore, and Dulles, with the other one or two locations shown for perspective:

 

September 1934:

17.45 inches in DC vs  12.41 in Baltimore

 

August 1955

18.35 inches in Baltimore vs 14.31 in DC

 

June 1972

18.19 inches at IAD vs 11.53 in DC and 9.95 in Baltimore

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  • 2 weeks later...

Correct, and it's interesting to note how much rainfall varies in this area during extreme tropical events.  Here are the all-time monthly precipitation records for any month in DC, Baltimore, and Dulles, with the other one or two locations shown for perspective:

 

September 1934:

17.45 inches in DC vs  12.41 in Baltimore

 

August 1955

18.35 inches in Baltimore vs 14.31 in DC

 

June 1972

18.19 inches at IAD vs 11.53 in DC and 9.95 in Baltimore

 

Something crazy I found out... not only was August 1955 the wettest month ever for BWI, but summer 1955 was also the wettest summer ever, with 25.38 inches of rainfall. However, that summer also had the driest July ever, with only 0.3 inches of rain.

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