SNOW, WIND, ICE AND COLD
By Barbara McNaught Watson
winter storms are the great "Nor'easters". At
times, nor'easters have become so strong that they have been labeled the "White
Hurricane". In order for these storms to form, several
things need to occur. High pressure builds over New England. Arctic air
flows south from the high center into Virginia. The colder and drier the
air is, the denser and heavier it becomes. This cold, dry air is unable to
move west over the Appalachian Mountains. Instead, it remains trapped to
the east side, funneling down the valleys and along the coastal plain
toward North Carolina. To the east of the arctic air is the warm water of
the Gulf Stream. The contrast of cold air sinking into the Carolinas and
the warm air sitting over the Gulf Stream creates a breeding ground for
storms. Combine this with the right meteorological conditions such as the
position of the jet stream, and storm development may become
"explosive" (sudden, rapid intensification; dramatic drop in the
central pressure of the storm).
For a good Nor'easter to
develop, the jet stream enters the West Coast of the U.S. and splits with
the north branch crossing the northern Rockies and Canada and the south
branch dipping to the Gulf Coast states. The south branch turns northeast
across Virginia and rejoins the north branch off Newfoundland. The north
branch of the jet supports the southward
sinking cold air. The south branch carries a disturbance from the Gulf
Coast northeast to the Carolina coast. When the disturbance interacts with
the temperature boundary formed by the warm Gulf Stream waters and the
arctic air mass inland, a low forms and it intensifies into a nor'easter.
Wind blowing counter-clockwise around the storm center carries warm, moist
air from the Gulf Stream up and over the cold inland air. The warm air
rises and cools and snow begins. The storm's speed and exact track to the
north become critical in properly forecasting and warning for heavy snow
across Virginia. It is quite common for the rain-snow line to fall right
over Petersburg, Richmond, or Fredericksburg. Heavy snow often falls
in a narrow 50 mile wide swath about 150 miles northwest of the low
pressure center (see diagram to the left - Low pressure center or storm
center is represented by a "L"). Closer to the low center,
the warmer ocean air changes the precipitation over to sleet, freezing
rain, and eventually rain. If the forecasted storm track is off by just a
little bit, it may mean the difference between heavy rain, freezing rain
or sleet (marked as mixed precipitation in the diagram), and a foot of
Winds around the storm's
center can become intense, building waves that rack the coastline and
sometimes pile water inland causing extensive coastal flooding and severe
beach erosion. The strong wind from the northeast gives the storm its
name, "nor'easter". Unlike the hurricane which usually comes and
goes within one tidal cycle, the nor'easter can linger through several
tides, each one piling more water on shore and into the bays. March
5-9, 1962, is known as the "Ash Wednesday Storm." The
storm lingered off the Virginia Capes for days. It caused over $200
million (1962 dollars) in property damage and major coastal erosion from
North Carolina to Long Island, NY.
During the winter of
1993-1994, Virginia was struck by a series of ice storms. The
region had been overdue for an ice storm, but it was unprecedented to have
several occur one after the other. Ice
storms are not an uncommon event in the valleys and foothills of the
Appalachian Mountains. Utility company records show the frequency with
which fallen wires need to be repaired. The set up is not completely
unlike that for a nor'easter. High pressure over New England funnels cold,
dry arctic air south over the state. The air tries to push west but can
not rise over the Appalachian Mountains and becomes trapped on the east
side. A storm moves northeast from the southern plains or Gulf Coast
region. Instead of passing south and east of Virginia, it often moves up
the west slopes of the mountains. Warm, moist air rises over the mountains
and the trapped cold air on the east side. Precipitation begins (See
The type of precipitation depends on the depth of the cold air. At first
it is often deep enough for snow, but as the warm air associated with the
nearing storm continues to erode the cold air east of the mountains, the
cold air mass gets shallower and shallower. Soon it is no longer snow, but
rain falling into the cold air. The rain droplets freeze into small ice
pellets known as sleet. When sleet hits the ground, it
bounces and does not stick to objects. Therefore, it is generally
considered no more than a minor nuisance. However, during the 1993-1994
winter storms, several inches of sleet were enough to cause considerable
problems on roadways in Northern Virginia.
Eventually, the cold air
mass is so shallow that the rain does not freeze until it hits the ground.
Any object with a temperature below 32°F degree will suddenly find ice
accumulating on it. This is known as freezing rain and is
very dangerous. Ice on roadways and walkways is treacherous. As the ice
accumulates on trees and wires, the weight eventually causes them to
break, knocking out power and phone service. Sometimes, so much ice can
accumulate that structural damage can occur to buildings and communication
towers can collapse from its weight. During the February
10-11, 1994 Ice Storm, some areas of southern Virginia received an
astounding 3 inches of ice causing tremendous tree damage and power
outages for up to a week. More recently on December
23, 1998, the Petersburg and Williamsburg area had a similar
Other types of weather systems
generally do not cause major problems for Virginia. Storms such as the
"Alberta Clipper" (a fast moving storm from the Alberta, Canada
region), or a cold front sweeping through from the west, generally do not
bring more than 1 to 4 inches of snow in a narrow 50 to 60 mile-wide
band. Sometimes, the high pressure and cold arctic air that follow
in the wake of a "clipper" becomes the initial set up for the
"nor'easter." In very rare cases, elements combine to
produce very localized heavy snow without any fronts or storm centers
nearby. These events are nearly impossible to forecast with any accuracy.
One such event occurred in Northern Virginia on March
9, 1999. An unexpected 9 to 12 inches of snow fell in a very
narrow band through a very heavily populated and well traveled corridor
(Winchester to Middleburg to Fairfax to Alexandria).
VIRGINIA'S HISTORIC WINTER EXTREMES:
Information on storms
and weather go back a long time in Virginia, thanks to early record
keeping by weather observers such as George Washington, James Madison and
Thomas Jefferson, and journals and articles written by early settlers.
While early documentation of winter storms is not as extensive as that of
hurricanes, listed below are some of the historic winter storms and cold
waves to have impacted the great Commonwealth of Virginia. Much of
information for the 18th and 19th centuries (Prior to National Weather
Service records which begin in 1871), if not otherwise noted, was compiled
by David Ludlum, a weather historian and author, and documented in his
books "Early American Winters" and the "American
18th Century Winters
January 28, 1772: This storm was named the "Washington
and Jefferson Snow Storm" since it was recorded in both of their
diaries. The storm left near 3 feet of snow from Charlottesville to
Winchester to Washington. It was the greatest snow anyone could
remember at that time and remains the unofficial record to present day
(official records begin in 1872).
May 4, 1774: Snow was reported in the Williamsburg
Gazette to have fallen in Dumfries, Virginia. George washington's weather
diary logged at Mount Vernon, that it was a cold day with spits of snow
and a hard wind from the northwest. Thomas Jefferson near Charlottesville
logged that the Blue Ridge Mountains were covered with snow. The late snow
and frost killed most of the fruit crop in the northern part of the
state. It also snowed north across Maryland, Pennsylvania, New
Jersey and New York.
December 25, Christmas, 1776: Thomas Jefferson, at his
home in Monticello, noted that the first winter snow fell on December 20
but did not last on the ground a day. Then on Christmas eve, the
temperature dropped. Temperatures on Christmas Day remained at 30° or
colder. On Christmas night, 22 inches of snow fell. He wrote that from
that night until the 7th of March was the coldest winter remembered. From
the 20th of December until March 6, ten snows covered the ground and some
of them were deep. The first rain came on the 9th of March. In Frederick
County, two feet of snow was recorded.
"The Hard Winter of 1779-1780": This winter was
so cold that ice was said to have been piled 20 feet high along the
Virginia Coast and stayed there until spring! The upper portion of the
Chesapeake Bay was frozen allowing people to walk from Annapolis to Kent
Island, Maryland. The Virginia portion of the Bay was frozen to near the
mouth. All waterways (rivers) in Virginia were reported firm enough to
support crossing of soldiers and in some cases, loaded wagons. America was
in its War of Independence. In March, a regiment of the Virginia Infantry
marched from Falmouth to Fredericksburg. They were able to cross the
Rappahannock River which had been frozen since the previous November.
January 1784: The Chesapeake Bay once again froze
almost all the way to the mouth. Snow occurred between the 10th and the
19th. James Madison in Orange County, VA wrote in a letter to Thomas
Jefferson "We had a severer season and particularly a greater
quantity of snow than is remembered to have distinguished any preceding
winter." The cold and snow was followed by a thaw and flood waters on
the rivers. An ice jam formed on the James River at Richmond. It gave way
on the 24th causing a flash flood of ice and water that swept away an
important bridge on a nearby creek and sank boats that were tied up below
the falls. Ice on the Potomac did not break until March 15th.
January 1792: The Elizabeth River at Norfolk froze
for the first time since 1784.
February 14, 1798: Reports in the Norfolk Herald
on February 17 and the New York Spectator on March 3 indicated that
the greatest snowfall ever experienced had occurred in Norfolk with snow
"in many places up to six feet deep" (may have been drifts).
Some accounts claim that 40 inches of snow fell in just one night in
Norfolk and along the coast but that 25 miles inland there was none. Over
Northeast North Carolina, 16 inches of snow was reported. The wind was off
the Chesapeake Bay (blowing from the north to northwest) and hence this
may have enhanced the snowfall in the Norfolk coastal area much like the
winds blowing across the Lake Erie produce large snowfalls under the right
conditions in Buffalo, NY.
19th Century Winters
January 14-16, 1831: This storm was declared "The
Great Snowstorm" because of the wide extent of deep snow from
Georgia to Maine and west into Ohio. David Ludlum in Early American
Winters II describes that east of the crest of the Appalachian
Mountains, the snow amounts go from heavy to excessive. He quotes from the
Winchester Republican "Never was such a storm known here, nor
does any person whom we have seen, remember to have witnessed one more
severe elsewhere." An observer in Alexandria stated that nothing
since 1809 even approached the fury of this storm. A weather observer in
Gettysburg measured 30 inches of snow. In Petersburg, the storm began
before daybreak on Friday the 14th and continued for 50 hours until
mid-morning on Sunday and measured about 8 inches. Snowfall amounts
increased to the north with 13 inches in Washington with much more over
the Shenandoah Valley.
January 4-5, 1835: Alexandria recorded -15°F and
the Potomac River was frozen over. The Chesapeake Bay also froze down to
the Virginia Capes for the first time in almost 50 years.
March 16-18, 1841: A heavy snowstorm dropped up to 30
inches of snow in the Tidewater area. Measurements were taken in areas
unaffected by wind. Reported in the local Beacon in Norfolk.
February 27 to March 2, 1846: A severe coastal storm
known as "The Great Gust" hit the Virginia and the
Northeast. Norfolk recorded tides up to five feet above normal. The storm
did a half million dollars damage on the East Coast. Fifty families
drowned in North Carolina. From "Historical and Destructive
Sketches of Norfolk and Vicinity" by William S. Forrest, 1853 was
the following -
"Friday, February 27,
1846. A snow storm of almost unprecedented severity commenced on
this day, the wind
From The American Beacon on March 4, 1846 -
blowing a gale from the
"Saturday, 28th. The
snow was several inches deep, and rain began to fall during the day,
which continued until noon
on Monday, March 2nd, when the
rain gave place to hail [sleet] which fell rapidly, the wind continued
with unabated violence 'til midnight when it increased to a terrific
hurricane, which tore off roofs of buildings, uprooted trees and
demolished fences. The tide rose to an extraordinary height. Never since
1825 had it risen so high. Wide Water Street and the streets, lanes, and
wharves below were completely inundated and very large quantities of
"The wind continued from the
NNE, accompanied by snow and hail until nearly 12 o'clock Monday
night...Damage...confined to unroofing of residences...blowing down of
(some buildings) damage...to shipping (was) immense."
From The Norfolk Landmark on August 19, 1879 -
"The great storm of 1846,
known in all this section as "The Great Gust" commenced at 8
o'clock on the night of Sunday, March 1st of that year, and the rain and
sleet were terrible. It continued all day Monday and terminated Monday
night with heavy fall of snow. The tide rose 12 inches higher than it
had for 45 years, inundating the wharves and coming beyond the north
side of Water Street half way up to the market house.... The storm was
equally severe at Portsmouth, Old Point and Hampton, and great loss of
January 18-19, 1857: There was "The Great Blizzard
and Freeze". More than a foot of snow fell with temperatures in
the single digits and teens across the state. Strong winds caused
structural damage on land and wrecked ships at sea. Great drifts blocked
transportation through the state. One account states that Norfolk was
buried under 20 foot drifts of snow! Snowfall in Washington was between 14
and 24 inches with drifts four feet deep. Portsmouth measured 16 inches.
Brunswick County reported 18 inches and Prince George County 15 inches.
Christianburg measured 14 inches and Winchester 8 inches. Winds drifted
the snow in Richmond as high as 8 feet. Richmond was cut off from
Washington for seven days. Temperatures below zero followed the storm.
Christianburg reported -8°F. A Petersburg newspaper included a journal of
observations from 5:30 to 9:30 am on Friday, January 23, when the
temperature in the city dropped from -15°F to -22°F and rose back to
-13°F. In Halifax, about 16 inches of snow fell with drifts to 5 feet.
Temperatures fell to between -10° to -17° in the county. The cold was so
extreme that all Virginia rivers were frozen over. The Chesapeake
Bay was solid ice a mile and a half out from its coast. At Cape Henry, one
could walk out 100 yards from the lighthouse on the frozen ocean.
January 21, 1863: A severe coastal storm dropped heavy
rains on the Fredericksburg area. It rained for 30 hours dropping upwards
of two inches. The mud was deep. So deep that mules and horses died in the
attempt to move equipment. The rivers became too high and swift to
cross. It disrupted the Union Army offensive operation in the
ill-famed "Mud March".
March 1-2, 1872: Known as "The Great Storm of
1872." During the evening of March 1, winds increased from
the northeast to gale force (over 40 mph) on the coast and snow began
blowing and drifting. It was very cold and the snow accumulated several
inches. The wind drove water up into the Tidewater area and up the rivers.
Water rose rapidly flooding wharves and the lower part of Norfolk.
November 17, 1873: Severe storm and gale brought high
tides to tidewater area flooding wharves and the lower portion of Norfolk.
December 3-6, 1886: A southern storm dumped heavy snow up
into far southwest Virginia. The storm dumped 11 inches in Montgomery
Alabama and 22.5 inches in Knoxville, TN. It dropped 26 inches in
Ashville, NC and 16 inches in Wytheville, VA causing some roofs to
April 6, 1889 Nor'easter: Hampton Roads recorded a
sustained wind of 75 mph from the north and Cape Henry 105 mph though it
was estimated to have reached 120 mph. Tides at Norfolk reached 8.37 ft
above Mean Low Water which is over 4 feet above flood. From The Norfolk
Landmark on April 7, 1889 -
"...the storm was equal of
the famous one of August 18, 1879. Water Street from end to end was a
river of raging water; both ends of Main Street were covered with water,
West Main Street as high as Jackson. Jackson Street was flooded clean up
to Main. The water was a foot at the station-house door, and all the low
Washington, was far under water."
And on April 9, 1889, The Norfolk Landmark reported that damage was
heavier than the August 1879 hurricane even though the wind was not as
strong in Norfolk, because it lasted for a much longer duration. It was
estimated that the water was 18 inches higher than that of August 1879.
This storm was said to have lasted two days and two nights. Rain, snow and
sleet fell with the storm and totaled 3.2 inches liquid. Drummonds bridge
was swept away (later replaced by the Ghent bridge). Trees were uprooted
and roofs were torn off.
December 26-28, 1892: Norfolk set three local records for
snow (Official Weather Records began in 1871). The greatest single storm
amount with 18.6 inches; the most in 24 hours with 17.7 inches; and the
maximum depth of snow on the ground with 18.6 inches. Normal snowfall at
Norfolk is only 7.8 inches per year.
February 1899: The "Great Arctic Outbreak of
'99" and the "Great Eastern Blizzard of '99"
occurred this month. Extreme cold settled into the state with Quantico
recording a record low of -20°F and Washington, DC recording -15°F on
the 11th. The blizzard struck on Valentine's Day dropping 16 inches of
snow in Richmond and 20 inches in Washington. It gave Washington a snow
depth 34 inches (almost 3 feet) and the city recorded its greatest monthly
total with 35.2 inches and its greatest seasonal snowfall total with 54.4
inches. Warrenton recorded 54 inches (four and a half feet!) just during
February, setting a state record for monthly snowfall. That winter
(1898-1899) was so cold over a large part of the US that ice flowed from
the Mississippi River into the Gulf of Mexico! The only other time that
this has been seen was on February 13, 1784, when ice flows blocked the
Mississippi River at New Orleans and then passed into the Gulf of Mexico.
20th Century Winters (First Half)
March 29, 1921: In Northern Virginia and Washington, an
early spring abruptly ended when a cold front passed through. On March 28,
it was 82°F at noon in Washington, DC. The temperature fell to 26°F by
the morning of the 29th - a fall of 56° in less then 24 hours. The warm
temperatures early in the year caused an early bloom on the fruit trees in
Virginia and Washington. The sudden downfall of temperatures in early
April caused damage to the crop for the year.
January 28, 1922: Exactly 150 years after the Washington
and Jefferson Storm came the deepest snow of this century to hit parts of
Virginia. The storm struck from South Carolina to Massachusetts with a
heavy snow band stretching across Richmond (19 inches) and Washington, DC
(25 inches). It immobilized the region. The weight of the snow was too
much for the Knickerbocker Theater in Washington, DC and it collapsed,
crushing 98 people to death and injuring 130. The storm is known
historically as the "Knickerbocker Storm."
March 1-3, 1927: High winds around the nor'easter gusted
to 62 mph at Cape Henry and 52 mph at Norfolk. Heavy snow fell across
North Carolina into Virginia and travel was delayed for 2 to 3 days. In
Virginia Beach, high tide and heavy surf on March 2 inflicted considerable
damage. The beaches in some places were washed back 50 feet and denuded of
the overlying sand so that the clay beneath was exposed. The large hotel
in Virginia Beach and other buildings were severely damaged along with the
boardwalk and other protective structures.
February 7, 1936: Over 14 inches of snow fell in the
Northern Virginia with greater amounts in the Skyline drive area. The
heavy snow help set the stage for the great spring flood of March 1936
when warm March temperatures and rain brought a sudden thaw to the snow
pack. Following the snow and before the March warm up, Richmond's
temperature fell to a record low for the month reaching -10°F.
November 24-25, 1938: Early heavy snowstorm dumped 7
inches in Washington, DC and Northern Virginia and as much a one to 2.5
feet of snow in western Maryland and the Virginia mountains. It was the
largest snow of record for November. The heavy snow hit from Virginia to
New England. Hundred of automobiles were snowbound on the highway during
the Thanksgiving Holiday travel period. Three people died in Virginia in
January 23-24, 1940: Farmville and New Canton recorded 24
inches in 24 hours setting a new record in the state. The storm also set a
number of records for Richmond. Official records in Richmond began in
1897. The storm dropped almost two feet of snow (21.6 inches) in 24 hours
and helped set a record for the month of 28.5 inches. Lighter amounts fell
to the north. Alexandria received close to 10 inches of snow. Richmond was
shut down with drifts as deep as four feet. Businesses were closed for a
couple of days and some schools for a week. There were 12 deaths
attributed to the storm in Virginia with damages estimated at half a
million dollars. With fresh snow on the ground, temperatures fell. On the
six days following the storm, low temperatures dropped below zero with the
coldest day setting a new all time record of -12°F. This was also the
coldest month of February on record for Richmond.
March 29-30, 1942: The "Palm Sunday
Snowstorm" was a seasonal late comer. Washington, DC and portions
of Northern Virginia received a foot of snow.
January 22-28, 1943: Three years after Richmond's big
snowfall, Richmond was hit with its worst ice storm of record up to that
time. The ice accumulated to a glaze an inch thick. The weight of the ice
was too much for utility poles and wires bringing them down and cutting
off electricity and telephone service. Thousands of trees were damaged or
destroyed by the weight of the ice.
20th Century Winters (Second Half)
April 11, 1956: A severe nor'easter gave gale winds (40
mph +) and unusually high tides to the Tidewater Virginia area. At
Norfolk, the strongest gust was 70 mph. The strong northeast winds blew
for almost 30 hours and pushed up the tide which reached 4.6 feet above
normal in Hampton Roads. Thousands of homes were flooded by the
wind-driven high water and damages were large. Two ships were driven
aground. Water front fires were fanned by the high winds and, the flooded
streets made access to fire fighters very difficult and it added to the
February 15-16 and March 20-21, 1958: Over 14 inches of
snow fell in Northern Virginia in the Washington area in a mid-February
storm. Transportation was paralyzed. Two deaths in Virginia were
attributed to the storm. Another nor'easter struck on March 21, dropping
another 10 to 15 inches in the central mountains and across northern
February 12 through March 10, 1960: Four storms in four
weeks. The first storm hit February 12-15 dropping 6 inches to a foot all
the way from Louisiana to Canada. There six fatalities attributed to the
storm in Virginia. The second storm struck February 18-20 and dropped up
to two feet in the western Virginia mountains. The third storm hit March
2-5 and dropped 4 to 20 inches in Virginia. Twelve deaths were attributed
to the storm in Virginia. The fourth storm struck on March 8-10. It
dropped 10 inches in Georgia and up to 24 inches in Kentucky. Four to 15
inches fell across Virginia with drifts much higher. North Carolina
recorded drifts from 3 to 30 feet! Many buildings collapsed from the
accumulative weight of the snow and structural damage totaled into the
The Winter of 1960-1961: The stormy pattern of the last
couple winters continued with three more significant storms. The first one
was December 10-12, 1960. Heavy snow and high winds hit from Virginia into
New York. In Virginia, snow fall ranged from 4 to 13 inches in the north
and west. There were seven fatalities in Virginia attributed to the storm.
The next snowstorm struck on January 19-20 from North Carolina to New
York. Virginia saw up to 12 inches. It caused a great traffic jam in
northern and central Virginia and DC. Two deaths were blamed on the storm
in Virginia, due to overexertion and accidents. The third storm struck
February 3-5 and hit like a blizzard with severe cold and gale force
winds. Eight inches fell in Washington, 2 to 13 inches across Virginia
with as much as 36 inches in New York. There four fatalities in Virginia.
March 5-9, 1962: The "Ash
Wednesday Storm." The storm hit Virginia during "Spring
Tide" (sun and moon phase to produce a higher than normal tide). The
storm moved north off the coast past Virginia Beach and then reversed its
course moving again to the south and bringing with it higher tides and
higher waves which battered the coast for several days. The storm's center
was 500 miles off the Virginia Capes when water reached nine feet at
Norfolk and 7 feet on the coast. Huge waves toppled houses into the ocean
and broke through Virginia Beach's concrete boardwalk and sea wall. Houses
on the Bay side also saw extensive tidal flooding and wave damage.
The beaches and shore front had severe erosion. Locals felt the damage
from this storm was worst in Virginia Beach than that of the 1933
Hurricane. The islands of Chincoteague and Assateague were completely
underwater. When the water receded, hundreds of thousands of dead chickens
were left and the Virginia Department of Health indicating it was an
extreme health hazard asked all women, children and elderly to evacuate. A
million dollars in damage was done to NASA's Wallops Island Launch
facility and an estimated $4 million in wind and flood damages occurred to
the City of Hampton. Winds up to 70 mph built 40-foot waves at sea.
Heavy snows fell inland.
Big Meadows, in Shenandoah National Park on the Blue Ridge Mountains just
southeast of Luray, recorded Virginia's greatest 24-hour snowfall with 33
inches and the greatest single storm snowfall with 42 inches. Two feet of
snow fell from Charlottesville (21 inches) to Luray (24 inches) to
Winchester (22 inches) setting new records. Hot Springs (in the mountains
northwest of Roanoke) recorded 17 inches of snow, Culpeper 15 inches, and
Richmond 12 inches from the storm. Roads were blocked and electrical
service was out for several days in some areas.
January 30-31, 1966: A blizzard struck Virginia and the
Northeast U.S. This was the second snowstorm to hit Virginia in a
week. The first storm dumped 15 inches in Richmond and 9 inches in
Norfolk. With fresh snow on the ground, arctic air settled in and
temperatures dropped into the teens. The second storm dumped one to two
feet of snow over a large part of the state: Lynchburg - 11 inches;
Farmville - 23 inches; Partlow - 20 inches; Fredericksburg - 15.5 inches;
Manassas - 13 inches; and Arlington - 14 inches (added to a previous snow,
the depth on the ground came to 20 inches). Lynchburg set a monthly record
with almost 32 inches (31.8). Intense blowing and drifting snow
continued and kept roads closed for several more days after the storm.
Temperatures dropped into the single digits with some falling below zero.
Wind chill temperatures were dangerously low. The Richmond area went on to
set a record for the calendar year with 41.6 inches. Roanoke had a record
month with 41.2 inches.
January 1977: The Bicentennial Winter was the coldest
seen on the East Coast since before the founding of the republic. In
Northern Virginia, the snow began on January 4, just as the Carter
Administration was moving into town. New storms dropped a few more inches
every few days to put a fresh coating on the streets that were just
clearing from the previous storm and give a clean look to the piles of
dirty snow that were accumulating along roadways and in parking lots. The
Tidal Potomac (salt water) froze solid enough that people could skate
across it near the Memorial Bridge. The average temperature for the month
of January in Washington was 25.4°F which was the coldest since 1856 when
the temperature averaged 21.4°F. The normal January average temperature
for Washington is 34.6°F (about 9° warmer). Roanoke averaged only
23.6°F, Richmond 25.3°F, and Norfolk 29.2°F (all 12° below normal).
The prolonged cold wave caused oil and natural gas shortages. President
Carter asked people to turn thermostats down to conserve energy.
Washington did not see heavy snow like the Great Lake region did that
winter. The cold winds blowing across the warm lakes brought 68 inches of
snow to Buffalo, NY. Washington recorded 10 inches of snow in January,
Richmond 11 inches, and Roanoke only 9 inches. Little to none fell the
rest of the winter ending it well below normal. The cold wave penetrated
into the South and on January 19, snowflakes were seen in Miami, Florida!
January 19-20, 1978: A strong nor'easter developed off
the Southeast Coast. It was the third snow in a week for Virginia.
Charlottesville got a foot of snow with up to 30 inches in the west
central mountains of Virginia. East of the mountains saw 4 to 8 inches
until you reached Richmond. Richmond got a devastating ice storm causing
major power disruptions and tree damage. Many small buildings and roofs
collapsed from the weight of the snow in the west. One man was injured
when a roof fell. One person died while shoveling snow.
January 20-21, 1979: Up to an inch of solid ice was
reported over sections of Southwest Virginia. Numerous trees and power
lines came down causing extended power outages. Some localities were still
without power a week after the storm. Pittsylvania County reported $1
million in damage to trees. Utility damages were also ran in the millions.
Damage also occurred to homes and vehicles from trees falling on them.
February 18-19, 1979: "The Presidents Day Storm"
was considered the worst storm in 57 years to strike Northern Virginia.
Snow depths from the storm ranged from 6 to 8 inches southwest and
southeast, 8 to 14 inches in the piedmont from south-central Virginia
through central Virginia (Richmond reported 11 inches), and up to 20
inches over Northern Virginia. At times, snow was falling 2 to 3 inches
per hour and temperatures were in the single digits to teens. Huge
tractors and other farm machinery had been driven to the Mall in
Washington, DC to protest for higher agricultural pricing. When the storm
hit, the farmers used their equipment to help locals dig out of nearly two
feet. Four deaths were attributed to heart attacks from stress due to
overexertion during and after the storm, and 18 injuries occurred from
falls on ice. Temperatures across the state were very cold (single digits
in the north) when the snow began making the storm similar to the February
1899 storm. Even Norfolk got 7 inches before changing to rain and recorded
nearly 13 inches of snow for the month.
Winter of 1980: On January 4 and 5, a heavy wet snow fell
over eastern Virginia with as much as 18 inches reported at Williamsburg.
A second storm hit on February 6 that dumped 6 inches in Williamsburg and
as much as 20 inches at Virginia Beach. Over a foot of snow fell in
Norfolk. This was topped on March 1. Once again, arctic air had settled
over Virginia and temperatures were in the teens. More than a foot (13.7
inches) of snow fell at Norfolk. The heavy snow combined with strong winds
to create blizzard conditions. Norfolk's total for the season came to a
record 41.9 inches making this the snowiest winter ever for Eastern
February 10-11, 1983: The "Blizzard of '83"
beat the Presidents Day Storm. It covered an unusually large area of
Virginia with more than a foot of snow. The storm set a new 24 hour
snowfall record in Lynchburg with 14.6 inches, Roanoke with 18.6 inches
and Richmond with 16.8 inches. Richmond received 18 inches total and parts
of Northern Virginia measured as much as 30 inches on the ground. Winds
gusted over 25 mph all day on February 11 in the Richmond area causing
Three foot high drifts. This was the third heaviest snowfall on record for
Richmond for the last 100 years. The cost of clearing the snow from state
roads came to $9 million.
March 28-29, 1984: A rapidly deepening storm moved out of
the central Mississippi Valley on the 28th. It produced heavy
rains over Southern Virginia on top of already wet soils and numerous
streams and rivers flowed out of their banks. The intense low tracked
across the lower Chesapeake Bay early on the 29th. Winds gusted to over 50
mph. Strong easterlies combined with the low pressure to cause
considerable tidal flooding in the Tidewater area and especially in
Accomack County. The tidal flooding was the worst experienced since the
great March 1962 storm. Several hundred homes and businesses in the towns
of Saxis, Onancock and surrounding communities were inundated with water
as much as 5 feet deep, causing the evacuation of many residents. 75% of
Tangier Island was flooded with up to a foot of water, while a large
section of the air field was unusable. Many crab houses were destroyed by
the flooding, high winds, and heavy surf. Over 1500 acres of farmland
planted with small grains was damaged by salt water. Rain changed to snow
northwest of Richmond and west of Washington, DC. 15 inches fell in
Berryville (probably convective type of snowstorm or "thundersnow").
The storm produced severe thunderstorms in the south part of the state
that toppled trees and damaged buildings. In North Carolina, the storm
produced the state's worst tornado outbreak of record.
January 20-22, 1985: An arctic cold front swept
across the state ushering in extreme cold and high winds. Wind chill
temperatures plunged well below zero. Winds knocked out power compounding
the effects of the cold. Pipes froze and burst. Fresh snow of 4 inches
with the front helped temperatures across the entire state fall below
zero. New records were set at several locations in the south including
Roanoke with -11°F and Norfolk with -3°F. Cable television lines were
damaged by shrinkage caused by the extreme cold. On January 22,
Mountain Lake recorded the coldest temperature ever in the state with
February 1989: This was a month of big swings in the
weather for Southeast Virginia. Twice, Norfolk saw record high
temperatures in the mid 70°s followed by a significant snowfall. The two
storms that struck dumped a record 24.4 inches of snow at Norfolk. Over 14
inches occurred during one 24 hour period. It was the most snow to occur
in one month in southeast Virginia in the last 100 years.
March 13-14, 1993: The "Superstorm of March '93"
was also known as "The Storm of the Century" for the
eastern United States, due to its large area of impact, all the way from
Florida and Alabama through New England. The storm was blamed for some 200
deaths and cost a couple billion dollar to repair damages and remove snow.
In Florida, it produced a storm surge of 9 to 12 feet that killed 11
people (more deaths than storm surges Hurricanes Hugo and Andrew combined)
and it spawned 11 tornadoes. In a large swath from Alabama to New England,
it dropped over a foot of snow. As the storm's center crossed Virginia,
weather stations recorded their lowest pressure ever.
This storm was not the
storm of the century for Virginia. Virginia had seen greater snowfall and
more damage by past storms such as the "Ash Wednesday"
storm in March, 1962. It was the biggest storm in a decade and it packed
quite a wallop to the western portions of the Commonwealth. Unlike most
big winter storms that move up the coast, this storm took a more inland
track across Richmond and the Chesapeake Bay. It brought rain and some
high winds to Southeast Virginia and heavy snow and blizzard conditions
over portions of the north and west. A foot to a foot and a half of snow
fell along the foothills to the Blue Ridge with two feet to the west.
Extreme Southwest Virginia saw 30 to 42 inches of snow from the storm (the
most snow in over 25 years). Some roofs collapsed under the weight of the
snow. Winds produced blizzard conditions over portions of the west with
snow drifts up to 12 feet! Interstates were shut down. Shelters were
opened for nearly 4000 stranded travelers and those that left without heat
and electricity. Virginia called out its National Guard to help with
emergency transports and critical snow removal. Eleven people died in
Virginia during and immediately following the storm from over-exertion and
heart attacks shoveling snow or from exposure and hypothermia. Snow
removal and clean-up costs were estimated at 16 million dollars.
January-February, 1994: These two
months saw an unusual assault of ice storms on the Commonwealth. It began
in mid January with an arctic blast that sent temperatures below zero over
northern and western Virginia for a couple mornings. Winchester recorded
-18°F on the 16th, Harrisonburg reached -13°F, Woodstock was -17°F and
western Loudoun County reached -15°F. Between then and mid February,
about a dozen storms hit dropping snow, sleet, and freezing rain over all
but the southeast. The most devastating storm struck February 10-11.
A swath of Virginia was coated with one to three inches of solid ice from
freezing rain and sleet! The hardest hit was an area from Danville and
Lynchburg northeast through Fredericksburg. Some counties lost 10 to 20
percent of their trees from the heavy ice. Roads were blocked and
impassable. Electric and phone lines were down with as much as 90 percent
of the county's people without power. Even with the help of electric
companies from other states, many people were without power for a week. A
presidential disaster declaration was given and damages were estimated at
$61 million. There were numerous injuries from automobile accidents and
people falling on ice. Unfortunately, the National Weather Service does
not keep records on ice amounts because this was likely the iciest winter
Virginia has seen, at least this century.
January 6-13, 1996: The "Blizzard of '96"
or the "Great Furlough Storm" began late on Saturday,
January 6. Just one day earlier, an impasse between a republican congress
and a democratic president over the 1996 Federal Budget had finally come
to an end. Many federal employees had been on furlough with government
offices shut down for almost a month. Employees would finally return to
work on Monday, January 8.
However, mother nature did not cooperate. By Monday morning, much of
Virginia and the Washington area was buried under 2 feet of snow. As much
as 30 to 36 inches of snow fell over the western mountains and the
Shenandoah Valley. Roanoke set a new 24 hour snow record with 22.2 inches
and Lynchburg set a new record with 20 inches. High winds on the 8th swept
the snow into 10 foot drifts in the mountains. Around Richmond and
throughout central Virginia 1 to 2 feet of snow fell with 11 to 14 inches
in the immediate metro area. Even the Tidewater area saw anywhere from 5
to 8 inches of snow.
The entire I-95 corridor
from near the North Carolina border into New England was paralyzed. Many
rural and some residential areas did not see a snow plow for 5 days. The
Federal Government remained shut down for another 4 days. Many local
governments and businesses were also closed. Schools announced their
closure for the entire week and some were closed longer. A second storm
struck on Friday, January 12 dumping another 2 to 6 inches. A maximum of
10 inches of snow fell over Highland and western Loudoun Counties. By the
week's end, most of Virginia, west of Richmond, had seen 2 to 4 feet of
snow! Most areas to the east had received at least a foot.
January 19-22, 1996: Just one week after 2 to 4 feet of
snow fell over western Virginia, temperatures warmed into the 60°s ahead
of a front which brought thunderstorms and heavy rain. The sudden warm-up
caused a rapid snow melt. The melted snow was the equivalent of 2 to 4
inches of rain. Some areas saw another 2 to 5 inches of rain fall on top
of the melted snow. The saturated ground meant that all the rain and snow
became run off into the streams and rivers which could not handle it.
Major flooding resulted. This sort of event had not happened since March
February 2-3 and February 16, 1996, Storms: A continuing
series of Alberta clippers followed by strong nor'easters struck the
Commonwealth. The storm on February 2-3, dropped one to two feet of snow
from to Charlottesville, Fredericksburg and across the Northern Neck. To
the north of the heavy snow band fell 6 to 10 inches of snow and to the
south of the band was a significant ice storm. Some counties along the
North Carolina border saw about half of its population lose power. The ice
caused about a half million dollars in damage and caused widespread
disruptions in the Hampton Roads area. Following the fresh snow and ice
came a cold wave from the 3rd through the 6th with many areas dropping
below zero. On the 5th, several places set new records. Lynchburg set a
new all-time record low temperature reaching -10° F and Burkes Garden
recorded -22° F which is one of the coldest temperatures ever recorded in
Virginia. On the 16th, another nor'easter moved up the coast dumping 6 to
12 inches of snow in a swath across Virginia from Nottoway to
Fredericksburg with Charlottesville on the west side of the heavy band and
Richmond on the east side.
Winter of 1995-1996: Much of Virginia, north and west of
Richmond, had either a record seasonal snow total or it was in the top
three for this century. Lynchburg set a new record with 57 inches of snow
and Dulles with 62 inches. Blacksburg had 76 inches. Bluemont recorded 87
inches. Fredericksburg and the Northern Neck saw nearly 60 inches of snow.
Roanoke recorded its third snowiest season with 53.4 inches. Burkes Garden
recorded 97 inches of snow (over 5 feet). Bland and Glasgow had 62 inches
and Buckingham saw 67 inches for the season. Some schools lost as many as
15 days. It was difficult to make up the time and compensate for the
disrupted school year. Some schools added hours to their days, others
added Saturdays or teacher conference days and some schools stayed in
session through most of June.
January 27-28 and February 3-6, 1998: "Back-to-Back
Nor'easters" pounded the Tidewater area and produced coastal
flooding. Tides remained higher than normal from astronomical high tides
and the January 27-28 nor'easter.
Then came the February nor'easter. Its slow movement and gale force
winds pushed the tide to 7.0 feet above Mean Low Low Water at Norfolk and
resulted in moderate to severe flooding. The entire town of Chincoteague
on the Eastern Shore was under water. Willoughby Spit was the hardest hit
area in Norfolk and homes in Sandbridge and Chick's Beach were severely
damaged in Virginia Beach. Inland, heavy rains fell. Most areas that
saw 2 to 4 inches with the January 27-28 storm again saw it with the
February storm. Some locations received as much as 7.5 inches of rain. The
rain lead to flooding on small streams and creeks closing numerous roads.
The flood waters eventually flowed into the main stem of the rivers which
reached bank full or minor flood levels. A woman died in Culpeper after
driving her car into flood waters.
In the western part
of the state, some high elevation counties saw one to two feet of snow in
the January 27-28 storm. Thundersnow fell in Dickerson and Buchanan
Counties were some people described the huge size of the snowflakes as
being more like snowballs falling. Some trees and power lines came down.
Power was out to 99% of Dickerson County residents. When the next storm on
February 3rd began snowing, over 1000 customers were still without power.
A charter bus on Interstate-81 overturned injuring 20 people. One man in
Tazewell County died as a result of rescue services not being able to
reach him fast enough with the heavy snow and downed trees and power
lines. With the February storm came more snow and then ice. In the
Allegheny Highlands, a foot or more of snow fell and winds drifted it in
some areas up to 6 feet closing roads. Areas east of the highlands saw 4
to 8 inches before the snow changed to freezing rain. A man died of a
heart attack shoveling g snow in Harrisonburg. Some areas got significant
ice on top of the snow causing trees to come down and in ne case a roof to
collapse. Heavy ice accumulated in the mountains with as much as 5 inches
in some spots. (click
here to go to web site with pictures) This did incredible damage to
trees. Shenandoah National Park was closed for a week while trees where
removed from Skyline Drive. Thousands of trees fell and work continued
into April. Damage in the park alone was $607,000. Near the North Carolina
border on the Blue Ridge Parkway west of Martinsville and again near
Lynchburg, severe thunderstorms blew down trees, power lines, destroyed
two mobile homes and blew a roof off a business.
December 23, 1998, "The Christmas
Ice Storm": A major ice storm struck central and
southeast Virginia beginning on Wednesday, December 23 and lasting into
Friday, December 25, Christmas Day. Icy conditions caused injuries from
slips and falls and numerous vehicle accidents. Ice accumulations of up to
an inch brought down trees and power lines. Outages were so widespread
(400,000 customers on Christmas Eve) that some people were without power
for up to ten days.
March 9, 1999: Light
snow began around day break and intensified into the mid day. In the
heaviest band, snow was falling at a rate of 2 to 3 inches an hour. While
schools were closed and some stayed home with the children, many others
found themselves on the roads in rapidly deteriorating conditions. Snow
was falling hard enough that road crews at times had trouble keeping up.
Cars stuck in snow and abandoned soon littered the roadways making plowing
even more difficult and travel for others even more hazardous.
Virginia Winter Weather Summary
Roanoke Winter Statistics
Average Snowfall = 22.9 inches
Greatest Snow = 22.2 inches in Jan. 1996
Snowiest Month = 41.2 inches in Jan. 1966
Coldest Temperature = -11°F in Jan. 1985
Richmond Winter Statistics
Average Snowfall = 14.0 inches
Greatest Snow = 21.6 inches in Jan. 1940
Snowiest Month = 28.5 inches in Jan. 1940
Coldest Temperature = -12°F in Jan. 1940
Norfolk Winter Statistics
Average Snowfall = 7.5 inches
Greatest Snow = 14.2 inches in Feb. 1989
Snowiest Month = 24.4 inches in Feb. 1989
Coldest Temperature = -3°F in Jan. 1985
Average Snowfall = 16.6 inches
Greatest Snow = 28 inches in Jan. 1922
Snowiest Month = 35.2 inches in Feb. 1899
Coldest Temperature = -15°F in Feb. 1899
Ice storm picture of ice around a cable from February 1998 provided by NWS
Picture of tow truck in flood waters from February 1998 from NWS
Wakefield. Picture taken by Hugh Cobb in the
Ghent section of Norfolk shortly after LOW tide.
National Disaster Survey Report: Superstorm of March 1993 ,
Dept. of Commerce,
NOAA, NWS, May 1994.
David Ludlum. The American Weather Book. Boston: Houghton Mifflin
1982, pp. 9-10. 29-31, 54.
David Ludlum. Early American Winters: 1604-1820. Boston: American
Meteorological Society, 1966. pp 39, 65, 73, 83,
144-146, 148, 156, and 167.
David Ludlum. Early American Winters II: 1821 to 1870
Boston:American Meteorological Society, 1968. pp 11, 58, 112, 129,
Storm Data, Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, NWS, January 1978.
Storm Data, Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, NWS, January and February
Storm Data, Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, NWS, February 1983.
Storm Data, Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, NWS, March 1993.
Storm Data, Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, NWS, January and February
Storm Data, Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, NWS, January and February
News Journal, Wilmington, DE, Sept. 18, 1994.
East Coast Storm: March 5-9, 1962 - A Preliminary Report and Special
Weather Bulletins Issued. US Dept. of Commerce, Weather Bureau, March
"Some Outstanding Snowstorms" L.S. 6211, U.S. Dept. of Commerce,
Virginia Climate Advisory, Volume 12, Number 4, Office of the State
Charlottesville, VA, Winter 1989.
Flood Plain Information: Coastal Flooding: Hampton, Virginia. U.S.
Army Corps of
Engineers, Norfolk, VA, October 1968.
Flood Plain Information: Coastal Flooding: Virginia Beach, Virginia,
U.S. Army Corps
of Engineers, Norfolk, VA, July 1969.
Hurricane Survey, Norfolk Virginia: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers,
Frederick Post, Nancy Lewis, Frederick, MD, Feb. 13, 1994.
Mary Cable. The Blizzard of '88. New York: Macmillan Publishing
pp. 58, 93-94, 165, 168, 191.
Local Climatic Data for Washington, DC. Dept. of Commerce, NOAA,
Local records from the Washington DC Forecast Office, DOC, NOAA, NWS.
Local Climatic Data for Richmond, VA. Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, NWS,
Local records from the Richmond Weather Service Office, DOC, NOAA, NWS.
Local Climatic Data for Norfolk, VA. Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, NWS,
Local records from the Norfolk Weather Service Office, DOC, NOAA, NWS.
Local Climatic Data for Baltimore, MD. Dept. of Commerce, NOAA,
Local Climatic Data for Roanoke, VA. Dept. of Commerce, NOAA, NWS,
Local Climatic Data for Lynchburg, VA. Dept. of Commerce, NOAA,
Material last updated November 15, 1999.
September 24, 2008