Washington, D.C
Snow in DC could make a February return. Here’s what we could be expecting
DMV Winter 2023-2024 Outlook: Why we’re expecting more snow, chance for blizzards in DC this winter
With a potentially strong El Niño in play for the 2023-2024 winter season, we’re forecasting more snow than an average winter for the Washington D.C. metro, Northern Virginia and Maryland.
WASHINGTON – By the standard set over recent years, this winter has already not been so bad snowfall wise. Washington, D.C. has actually already picked up more snow this winter than we have totaled in five of the past seven winters.
Many came into this winter with much higher expectations, however, especially since many winter outlooks, including our own, highlighted the increased risks for a blizzard this winter.
Is that risk still on the table? Or has this winter given us all it has to offer already, with spring getting closer by the day?
February is often a key month for seasonal snow forecasting. Why? Historically, it is the snowiest month of the year. Despite also being the shortest month of the year, the D.C. region averages 5.0″ of snow throughout the month.
HISTORIC DC FEBRUARY SNOW TOTALS
Some of the region’s largest snow events have been hit during the month as well, such as the 2003 Presidents’ Day Blizzard and Snowmageddon back in 2010. The month has featured some monster snows, most common in El Niño years. In fact, February during an El Niño winter averages nearly two more inches compared to an average February. A moderate to strong El Niño, which we are currently in the midst of, averages nearly double the typical snowfall.
For fun though, I did also look at the El Niño cases that did not produce much snow (less than 10″) through the start of February, and these winters did average less than normal snow throughout the month of February.
If we get a little deeper into the averages though, we do find that there are extreme years that drive those averages up a little bit, like nearly 29″ of snow in February 2003 and 32″ of snow in February 2010. Such extremes will have an impact on how an “average” looks.
READ MORE: DMV Winter 2023-2024 Outlook: Why we’re expecting more snow, chance for blizzards in DC this winter
DC snowfall totals so far this winter
So far this winter, Washington D.C. is the third snowiest major city along the I-95 corridor. FOX 5 meteorologist Mike Thomas has the details and your latest weather forecast.
READ MORE: Winter weather in DC, Maryland & Virginia: How much snow have we seen?
HOW MUCH SNOW DID DC GET IN PAST YEARS?
So really diving into the numbers, of the twenty-six El Niño Februarys on the record, only six have failed to put down any measurable snow at all (trace or less) during the month of February. That is not to say that most El Niño Februarys end up with a big snow though. In fact, only a little over 30% of El Niño Februarys end up with a major snow exceeding at least 6″ in Washington, D.C. Not a lot, but compared to the average February, a one-in-three shot is an above normal shot as far as winters go around here.
The data shows that the majority of years, about 62% of them, end up with between 3-6″ of snow. Coincidentally, we need just about half a foot more of snow to verify an “above normal snowfall” season here.
One thing that is undeniable is that, despite only a handful of it falling as measurable snow, it has been one of the stormiest winters on record here in the D.C. region. In just the last two months, we have completely erased the drought that plagued our region since the summer of 2023.
DMV Winter 2023-2024 Outlook
Here’s why we’re expecting more snow and a chance for blizzards in D.C. this winter.
We received just as much rain in December and January as we picked up in the entirety of the summer months, which is quite a rare feat. In fact, this was only the third time in recorded D.C. weather history that the city picked up over a foot of rain since December 1st. January alone featured nearly half a foot of rain, which is a feat we have not done in forty-five years. It has been an incredibly wet winter.
While an active storm track is typically a great thing for snow, it is not a guarantee that a big blizzard awaits in February. In fact, of all the years when at least 10″ of rain fell in December and January, only one case featured a big blizzard in the month of February.
That was back in February 1979, when a storm around Presidents’ Day dropped widespread 20″ snowfall amounts around the DC region. Coincidentally, 1979 was also the last year that saw half a foot of rain in just January alone, so there is some connection there!
HOW MUCH SNOW ACCUMULATION COULD DC SEE?
Despite the stormy winter, all indications are that February is going to start off on a relatively quiet note. Unlike the middle of January where we had a strong connection to Arctic cold, at the moment we do not have any strong atmospheric mechanisms to pull stronger cold out of Canada and pull it eastward. While we will occasionally get brief pushes of winter cold, the first two weeks of the new month really do not offer too much in the way of excitement in terms of cold, snow, or even rain for that matter.
There was one storm that we are keeping an eye on into early next week, in the Sunday to Tuesday timeframe. Over this past weekend, there were several computer guidance indications that this storm could take a turn north up the East Coast and provide another decent shot at some snowfall for much of the region.
More recent indications have been for this storm to pass well to the south of the Mid-Atlantic though. We will, of course, let you know if there are last-minute shifts on this track, but at the moment we favor this one to miss our region entirely, leaving us dry into the first full week of February.
While the pattern does start quiet at the beginning of the month, the vast majority of longer-range guidance suggests we will be in for at least one more round of sustained winter cold, and with it perhaps some better shots of accumulating snow as we approach the middle of the month.
Various models have suggested that blocking patterns will redevelop over the Arctic regions after about the 10th of the month. Similar in nature to what we experienced in the middle of January, these blocks should help provide stronger and more prolonged surges of cold air into the eastern United States. At the same time, most show the active storm track returning to the pattern.
At the same time, a climate feature known as the Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO for short) will be swinging into what is known as the colder phases. You can read about the details of this signal in our winter weather outlook but know that when is in the aptly named colder phases that stronger cold air transport from Canada into the United States is much more common.
From a snow lovers’ perspective, it is an exciting pattern to see on paper. Computer models have had their struggles this winter though. So, until we actually see the guidance roll over from the longer range, into the shorter range, we will be a little skeptical.
However, when we look at statistics and history, February is the most commonly colder than normal month during an El Niño year. I personally do not think that we will add any snow in the first ten days of the month at least, however, but I also do not believe we have seen our final snow of the season yet either.
We will look for the pattern to get more exciting towards the middle of the month. Stay tuned…
Washington, D.C
Mayor Bowser, Commanders' Josh Harris, and other local leaders react to RFK Stadium deal
WASHINGTON (7News) — After years of debate, false starts, and controversy, the Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium Campus Revitalization Act was passed in the Senate with unanimous consent, paving the way for the Washington Commanders to return to D.C.
Now, local leaders are speaking about the benefits, and potential drawbacks, of a new football stadium in the city.
Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC)
D.C. has scored a victory in its fight for self-determination just in time for the holidays. When the bill is signed into law by President Biden, D.C. will get to decide for itself what to do with the largest unused tract of land remaining in the District. I look forward to seeing the site transformed from crumbling blight to a productive and bustling complex that will generate significant revenue for the nation’s capital.
Throughout my career in Congress, I’ve prioritized transferring unused federal land to D.C. or the private sector, enabling the redevelopment of neighborhoods, generating tax revenue and bringing much-needed space to the District.
Maryland U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen
Maryland has been the proud home of the Commanders for over two decades and we continue to believe that this partnership should continue long into the future. After working to level the financial playing field, and receiving assurances that should the team move they will redevelop the existing site in a manner that meets the needs of the community, tonight we supported the proposed land transfer legislation. We have always supported the District’s effort to control its own land, and through regional discussions and cooperation, our concerns with this proposal have been addressed.
DC Mayor Muriel Bowser
Josh Harris, Managing Partner of the Washington Commanders
We are extremely grateful that our elected officials have come together on a bipartisan basis to give Washington D.C. the opportunity to decide on the future of the RFK stadium site. This bill will create an equal playing field so that all potential future locations for the home of the Washington Commanders can be fairly considered and give our franchise the opportunity to provide the best experience for all of our fans.
Congressman Glenn Ivey (D-Md)
Maryland should have the chance to compete to keep the Commanders here.
I opposed this bill in the House, and I oppose it today, because federal taxpayers should not be required to subsidize an NFL stadium by offering a 99-year lease of the RFK campus for free. That’s not fair to the taxpayers, and it’s not fair to Maryland because it undermines Maryland’s chance to compete on a level playing field.
But we can still win. Our site offers two nearby Metro stations, superior highway access, and a larger campus for parking. Now that the Dan Snyder era is over and the Harris team has brought winning football back to the DMV, a state-of-the-art indoor stadium would jumpstart redevelopment in the area and trigger property appreciation in short order. In addition to the ten games or so the Commanders play, the stadium could be used year-round for events like the Final Four and music concerts. Working closely with the Harris team–which owns much of the land around the stadium–we could create an economic win-win that would benefit the community, the region, the team, and the fans.
Maryland looks forward to working with the Harris team to make that vision a reality.
DC Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie
DC Council Chairman Phil Mendelson
We are grateful the legislation passed and that this large tract will not continue to deteriorate with a crumbling stadium on it.
At the same time, it is unfortunate that the Senate found unanimous consent to move the legislation concerning RFK, but is leaving untouched ten judicial vacancies. This continues to be a setback to the District’s public safety ecosystem. I would also be remiss to not emphasize that the continuing resolution underfunds, our police by $10 million.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (7News) — Mayor Muriel Bowser, along with the Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR), is offering dozens of activities for kids and families during the 2024-2025 Winter break.
“These initiatives provide young people with safe and engaging activities from Dec. 21 through Dec. 31. While many events are designed for all age groups, DPR is also hosting specialized programming for teenagers, creating dedicated spaces for them to connect, socialize, and have fun,” the Mayor said in a press release.
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Here are a list of the activities:
Community Toy Giveaway: Toy distribution and cocoa for children in the community
- When: Saturday, Dec. 21, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
- Where: Fort Stevens Recreation Center, 1327 Van Buren Street, NW
Movie Field Trip: Sonic 3: Young people can enjoy a field trip to see Sonic 3, with multiple pickup locations
- When: Saturday, Dec. 21, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
- Register HERE
Grinchmas at Kenilworth: Join us for a community holiday Grinch-themed party
- When: Saturday, Dec. 21, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
- Where: Kenilworth Recreation Center, 4321 Ord Street, NE
Community Christmas Extravaganza: An event for the distribution of toys, hygiene products, coats, and used clothing to those in need
- When: Saturday, Dec. 21, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
- Where: Rosedale Community Center, 1701 Gales Street, NE
Holiday Hype: A festive gathering at the MLK Library for all ages
- When: Saturday, Dec. 21, 2 p.m. – 6 p.m.
- Where: MLK Library, 901 G Street NW
- Register HERE
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Just Cares Toys for Tots Youth Basketball Tournament: This holiday basketball tournament and charity event will include Santa picture booth, entertainment, toy giveaways, and adult and kids basketball games!
- When: Sunday, Dec. 22, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
- Where: Deanwood Community Center, 1350 49th Street, NE
Water Cycle and Aqua Fitness: Water-based activities and fitness sessions
- Where: Ferebee-Hope Aquatic Center, 700 Yuma Street SE
- Water Cycle: Dec. 24 and 26, 3 p.m. – 3:45 p.m.
- Aqua Fitness: Dec. 24 and 26, 6 p.m. – 6:45 p.m.
eSports and Gaming Tournaments
- eSports Throwback & Brawlhalla Tournament: Columbia Heights Community Center, Dec. 23, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
- eSports 2K24 Tournament: Turkey Thicket Recreation Center, Dec. 26, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
- Winter E-Gaming Tournament: Hillcrest Recreation Center, Dec. 27, 2 p.m. – 6 p.m.
- eSports Madden Tournament: Deanwood Community Center, Dec. 27, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Holiday Drip: Celebrate the season with music and water-based fun
- When: Dec. 27, 3 p.m. – 5 p.m.
- Where: Barry Farm Aquatic Center, 1230 Sumner Road SE
Holiday Sing-Along: Come out to sing your favorite holiday carols
- When: Monday, Dec. 30, 3 p.m. – 5 p.m.
- Where: Kennedy Recreation Center, 1401 7th Street, NW
Holiday Movie Night: Come out to the Joseph Cole Recreation Center for a holiday movie
- Where: Joseph Cole Recreation Center, 1299 Neal Street, NE
- When: Monday, Dec. 23 and Dec. 30, 4 p.m. – 6 p.m.
Teen Time: Teens will have the chance to play minute-to-win-it games, board games, art activities, and basketball!
- When: Friday, Dec. 27, 5 p.m. – 6 p.m.
- Where: Ridge Road Community Center, 830 Ridge Road, SE,
Teen Time: Teens will have the chance to play minute-to-win games, board games, art activities, and basketball!
- When: Monday, Dec. 23, Tuesday, Dec. 24, Monday, Dec. 30, and Tuesday, Dec. 31, 5 p.m. – 6 p.m.
- Where: Rosedale Community Center, 1701 Gales Street, NE
High School Lifeguard Training: Comprehensive lifeguard training for high school students at multiple locations
- Ballou HS Aquatic Center, 3401 4th Street SE: Dec. 22 – 24, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
- Dunbar HS Aquatic Center, 101 N Street NW: Dec. 26 – 28, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
- Roosevelt HS Aquatic Center, 4301 13th Street NW: Dec. 29 – 31, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
- Rumsey Aquatic Center, 635 North Carolina Avenue SE: Dec. 29 – 31, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Junior Lifeguard Academy: A training program for youth ages 9 to 15 interested in lifeguarding, with sessions offered at various aquatic centers
- When: Dec. 23 through 31
- Locations:
- Barry Farm Aquatic Center, 1230 Sumner Road SE: 2 p.m. – 3 p.m.
- Turkey Thicket Aquatic Center, 1100 Michigan Avenue NE: 2 p.m. – 3 p.m.
- Ferebee-Hope Aquatic Center, 700 Yuma Street SE: 12 p.m. – 1 p.m.
- Deanwood Aquatic Center, 1350 49th Street NE: 12 p.m. – 1 p.m.
- Takoma Aquatic Center, 300 Van Buren Street NW: 12 p.m. – 1 p.m.
- Reservoir Park Aquatic Center, 10 Lower Service Court NW: 1 p.m. – 2 p.m.
Washington, D.C
An 'Ode to the Women in D.C': 'THROUGHLINE VOL. II' Honors Local Changemakers With Multidisciplinary Art Exhibit
If a picture is worth a thousand words, how much would it amount to when fused with original poetry, vibrant artwork, and themed cuisine?
California natives Xavier Renard Cunningham and Taylor Smalls offer insight to this question in Northwest D.C., with “THROUGHLINE: VOLUME II (VOL. II),” an exclusive multisensory art exhibition that leverages photography, painting, performance art, and culinary craft to champion 16 of the District’s Black unsung heroines.
“[‘THROUGHLINE’] was always about, how do we celebrate something, and how do you do that through art,” said Cunningham, creative producer of “THROUGHLINE.” “The cheeky answer is, why not Black women, who are – for us – the foundation, not only of what runs our [cities], but we think the world.”
Through Dec. 22, art connoisseurs can indulge in an immersive experience of culture and ambiguity, as Autoshop at Union Market hosts “THROUGHLINE’S” second iteration and first-ever in D.C.
The interdisciplinary exhibit combines poetry, music, and visual and culinary art to honor the breadth of women trailblazers across various platforms, from education and activism to entrepreneurship and wellness.
“[This] was created deeply starting with that fundamental purpose of unearthing those change makers, those change agents who are sometimes and more often than not, uncelebrated … even though they are shifting and shaping culture as we know in every city,” Cunningham explained.
District honorees such as Ashley Etienne and Alencia Johnson have fearlessly shaped the local political landscape, while other heavy-hitters like Kelsye Adams, Sister Mary Brown and Chloe Dulce Louvouezo — the latter two present for a “VOL. II” display on Dec. 15 — redefine social narratives and advocate for underserved groups locally and nationally.
Other celebrated recipients include: Ayo Tometi; Dionna Dorsey; Christine Platt; Rhea Combs; and Carla L. Sims, to name a few.
“Too often, we walk through this life doing extraordinary things, but going unseen,” Etienne, who was also in attendance on Sunday, told The Informer. “So to be seen and then to have it … for people like my daughter and others to see it and to admire the beauty, the essence and the work of Black women is just incredible.”
Imitation: The Sincerest Form of Flattery
Dozens of spectators gathered on Dec. 15 to witness the virtuosity and impact of “THROUGHLINE VOL. II,” which features breakout artists: Adedayo Kosoko (photographer); Gabrielle Hights (musician); Smalls (painter); as well as Chef Keem Hughley of Bronze DC, and award-winning poet Michael Wayne Turner III.
The collaborative exhibit is a powerful demonstration of nesting beauty in the eye of the beholder, with two levels of subject-based illustrations and individualized food dishes contingent on artistic ambiguity and perception.
As the lamented poetry explores themes of introspection and endurance, the visuals emulate the honorees’ pride and potency; Meanwhile, Chef Hughley’s paired custom entrees provide flavor to the textures and colors of the distinct images, culminating in a celebration for all the senses.
“Sitting with each of these women, taking time to really respect who they are, what they have come to be and how they stand in this exact moment … this is an ode. It’s a love letter to the women in D.C.,” said Smalls.
Turner brought the stilled images and deep-colored portraits to life as the classically trained thespian led guests on a theatrical tour through Autoshop — his voice commanding the room with a spiritual cadence as he recited each of his poems to the soulful refrain:“Maybe, you’ll join me down by the river, so I may wash away all of my pride.”
Darlene Brown, CEO of Divine Empowerment, appreciated the reflective aspect of the interdisciplinary exhibition, which she described as: “cathartic,” “inspirational,” and “a catapult” to empowerment.
“As I walked through, reading the poetry, examining the photos, the entire experience, I felt seen as a Black woman in America,” Brown told The Informer. “I felt validated, I felt heard, I felt valued … in a way that I can’t say that I’ve ever experienced coming to [an] exhibit [for] art and poetry.”
According to Smalls, who crafted all 18 paintings in the exhibit, the collaborative approach of artistic practices serves as what she calls a throughline to creatively “pass the baton” of culture preservation and diasporic solidarity.
The Oakland-based painter boasted one particular example: “Young Saffron,” a canvas painting of local entrepreneur and honoree Angel Gregorio with a saffron-colored base.
Since Gregorio travels internationally, particularly to Africa, to collect unique spices, Hughley made her personal dish a wagyu hot dog topped with Mambo Sauce — a D.C. speciality — and infused it with saffron spices from her spice boutique, The Spice Suite, located in the city’s Langdon Park community.
“It’s this really beautiful storytelling working together on so many different levels of artistry, but also across the diaspora … to hold what we know culturally, and specifically, in this city,” Smalls told The Informer.
But, the power of artistic exploration shone beyond connections to D.C. culture.
For Felicia Allen, a Florida-based grief counselor who flew to D.C. for the Dec. 15 showcase, the artists proved to encapsulate not only the spirit of the champions on the walls, but the resilience of Black women throughout African American history.
“This show is a culmination of who [Black women] are as people. Our strength, our intellect, our creativity, our innovation,” Allen told The Informer. “There is truth in these writings, in these pictures. We know who we are and what we’ve done, and this is a space of empowerment.”
Championing Prosperity, Representation Through the Arts
The shared project upholds a deeper purpose of centering what Cunningham considers “the core and foundation” of the Black community: mutual support and collaboration.
“[‘THROUGHLINE’] is about fighting against that notion that everything we do must be in silence, that we must pull ourselves up by our own bootstraps,” said Cunningham. “We truly believe it’s through community that you get ahead, that each person in this room has their own throughlines and connective tissue that can unlock their deepest dream.”
In addition to championing local changemaking, creative spaces like “THROUGHLINE” act to preserve the future of cultural arts–an industry where Black people are disproportionately outnumbered.
Data from a Burns Halperin Report shows that between 2008 and 2020, Black American artists only represented approximately 2% of museum acquisitions and 6% of exhibits, despite Black Americans making up 13.6% of the entire United States population.
With the methodic integration of various modalities, Allen said “THROUGHLINE” underscores the value of diversity in the arts and opens doors that could catapult creativity and innovation.
“We speak through the arts. [It’s] deeply rooted in our culture…[and] opens up that venue for us to be demonstrative, to have exploration and teach at the same time,” she explained. “I think now more than ever, that’s what we need.”
As “THROUGHLINE VOL. III” prepares to host its third installation in Detroit, Michigan, honoree Etienne commends the institute’s commitment to Black women inclusion, emphasizing the gravity of uplifting vulnerable communities–especially given recent political cycles.
“There are a lot of Black women that are feeling dejected, betrayed and undervalued after the election,” said the CBS News political contributor. “An exhibit like this that puts on display the finest of Black women and the humanity of Black women, I think, is not only timely, but it is priceless, and it is invaluable to our spirits right now.”
This story is part of the Digital Equity Local Voices Fellowship Lab. The Lab initiative is made possible with support from Comcast NBCUniversal.
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