WASHINGTON (WUSA9) -- The Nation's Capital has seen some of its largest snowstorms during the month of February. The entire Mid-Atlantic Region and northeastern United States typically see their largest snowfalls from coastal storms that develop under the ideal circumstances. For snow to accumulate, the column of air has to be below freezing from the base of the cloud to the ground coupled with below freezing surface temperatures. If a coastal storm develops off the North Carolina coast and heads up the east coast, then the D.C. Metro Region could see snowfall.
MORE: Get the latest forecast
The storm track is critically important since a track too far east would bring little, if any, precipitation while a track too far west could bring in warmer air that would either cause rain or a mix of snow, sleet and rain. Coastal storms, known as "nor'easters" because of their characteristic northeasterly winds, have access to moisture from both the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean. If there is an adequate amount of cold air in place then appreciable snowfall could ensue.
Two snowstorms in the last 40 years have occurred over Presidents Day weekend that rank in the top 10 for largest snows on record in Washington, D.C. The most recent occurred from February 16 to February 18, 2003. According to the National Weather Service, 16.4 inches of snow accumulated at National Airport. That's tied for the eighth largest snowfall on record in the Nation's Capital. It was also the fifth largest snowstorm at Dulles Airport where 21.7 inches of snow fell. However, in Baltimore (measured at BWI Airport), this storm ranked as the largest on record when 26.8 inches of snow fell. The Presidents Day 2003 storm would remain Baltimore's largest snowstorm until the "Blizzard of 2016" last month, when 29.2 inches of snow accumulated.
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The second memorable snowstorm to occur on Presidents Day Weekend was on February 18 to 19, 1979, when a total of 18.7 inches of snow was recorded at National Airport. It remains the third largest snowstorm on record in Washington, D.C. and the largest to occur at National Airport. During this storm, Dulles Airport had 16.3 inches of snow for its seventh largest snowstorm on record.
Two key differences between the 2003 and 1979 Presidents Day storms were their storm tracks and forecasts. The 2003 storm was well forecasted by meteorologists, thus giving residents time to prepare for the storm. However, in 1979 forecasters called for several inches of snow, while total accumulations were significantly higher. Also, the 2003 storm headed up the coast and brought Philadelphia, New York City and Boston significant accumulations. Conversely, the 1979 storm headed east and out to sea, which largely spared New England from the crippling snow that occurred in the D.C. Metro Region.
This Presidents Day weekend has featured the coldest weather of the winter across much of the eastern United States, coupled with snow in the forecast Monday. The current storm will have a different track than the 2003 and 1979 storms, so this will not be a pure snow event in the Nation's Capital.
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