2020’s ‘Unwintry’ Winter Offers Great Contrast to 2010’s Snowmageddon

It’s another rainy day in the DMV. In what has become a regular occurrence this winter, temperatures are higher than normal with lots of rain and almost no snow. If winter is coming, it better hurry. The first official day of spring is March 19 — five weeks away.

According to longtime FOX5 weathercaster Sue Palka, we have had over 5″ of rain since Jan. 1. Palka says an inch of rain is roughly equivalent to 10 inches of snow, so if the rain had been snow, we would theoretically have had more than four feet of snow so far this year. Instead, we have only had about half an inch.

NBC4 meteorologist Chuck Bell laments the lack of snow, even resorting to reverse psychology on social media to coax some flakes to fall.

This winter without winter had become the winter of my discontent! Only 0.6" of snow in DC has us in 4th place for "least snowy" winter on records. Temps have been 4th warmest on record. It's time to try reverse psychology: I don't want snow! pic.twitter.com/C1LQVG1T2w

— Chuck Bell (@ChuckBell4) February 11, 2020

In regards to the question “why” temperatures have been higher than normal, the National Weather Service offers an explanation.

If you are wondering why its been so warm this winter thus far, the positive (and as of today, record-setting) Arctic Oscillation Index (AO) has a lot to do with it. In a nut shell, it basically means that low pressure is keeping the cold air consolidated near the North Pole. https://t.co/IwuD48RD61

— NWS Baltimore-Washington (@NWS_BaltWash) February 11, 2020

Places around the country — and the world — that are not known for snow have had more of the white stuff than the DMV.

Places with more snow than DC this winter:
Baghdad
Midland, Tex.
Huntsville, Ala.
Nashville
North Georgia
Greenville, S.C.
Richmond
Asheville, N.C.https://t.co/2wO58Uxl0y

— Capital Weather Gang (@capitalweather) February 12, 2020

You’d have to go way back in time to find a less “wintry” winter than this one in the DMV.

In one regard, this winter's lack of extreme cold is almost unprecedented in the existing climate record for Washington DC. Only one other winter has failed to drop below 22 degrees by this point – The winter of 1931-1932. All other winters have had colder temperatures by now.

— NWS Baltimore-Washington (@NWS_BaltWash) February 12, 2020

It has been a very disappointing 2020 winter for snow lovers but 10 years ago, the northeastern United States — including the DMV — was pounded by the so-called Snowmageddon, a crippling blizzard that dumped almost two feet of snow on Washington D.C. and almost three feet on Baltimore from February 5-6.

10 years ago, DC had 21 inches of snow on the ground. Baltimore had 34 inches! Related article: https://t.co/RBYy5SzHUO

Meanwhile, we've had 0.6 inches all winter this year and could hit 60 degrees this afternoon.

Graphic by @islivingston pic.twitter.com/mJsJJZSc78

— Capital Weather Gang (@capitalweather) February 11, 2020

Here are some throwback photos of people in a neighborhood in Olney digging themselves out from 2010’s Snowmageddon.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B8cSExEhPb-/

About Joe Yasharoff

Joe Yasharoff is MCM's Director of Content and Operations. He is also an adjunct journalism professor at the University of Maryland. Previously, Joe was the Managing Editor at NBC Sports Washington and Executive Sports Producer at FOX5 (WTTG-TV). He hosts the MoCo's Most Famous podcast for MCM.

View all posts by Joe Yasharoff