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How much snow fell from Snowzilla in the D.C. area, in detail

January 24, 2016 at 12:33 p.m. EST
Capital Weather Gang's Jason Samenow has your weekly forecast and reports on just how much snow fell in the D.C. area during "Snowzilla." (Video: Jason Samenow, Ashleigh Joplin/The Washington Post)

The Snowzilla storm of January 22 and 23 goes down as one of the all-time greats in the D.C. region. One to three feet of snow fell across the entire region.

Amounts over 20 inches were common in the immediate D.C. area, while amounts of 12-20 inches focused south and southeast of the city. Paralyzing depths of 24-36 inches were reached to the west and northwest.

A few isolated locations at higher elevations in Loudoun and Frederick counties (and to the west) tallied 36-40 inches.

Reagan National Airport received 17.8 inches, which ties 2010’s Snowmageddon (Feb. 5-6) as the 4th greatest snowstorm total in Washington, D.C. weather records, which began in 1888. However, Capital Weather Gang learned the airport observers did not follow National Weather Service observing guidelines, so that number may require post-analysis and adjustment.

Washington, D.C., snowfall total called into question after improper measurement

A trained spotter one mile north-northwest of Reagan National measured 19.4 inches, while a location in Alexandria, one mile west-northwest of National Harbor, logged 17.0 inches.

Where Snowzilla fits into D.C.’s top 10 snowstorms

At the White House, where the National Park Service takes measurements, 22 inches were recorded.  Amounts inside the District generally ranged from around 19 to 24 inches, roughly from southeast to northwest.

Baltimore registered its greatest snowstorm on record with 29.2 inches, passing the 26.8 inches measured in Feb. 16-18, 2003.

Dulles had its second greatest snowstorm on record with 29.3 inches, just 3.1 inches behind Snowmaggedon in 2010.

Region by region snow breakdown

Inside the Beltway: 18 to 27 inches

Select totals:

D.C.: Near National Zoo 22.4 inches, Adams Morgan 21 inches

Va.: Bailey’s Crossroads 21 inches, Falls Church-Lake Barcroft area 23-24 inches, Lincolnia 22 inches

Md.: College Park 19-22 inches, Chevy Chase-Bethesda area 22-27 inches, Hyattsville 25 inches

Northwest of the Beltway: 24-36 inches (isolated 36-40 inches)

Select totals:

Va.: Reston-Herndon area 28 inches, Leesburg area 28-34 inches, Ashburn 36 inches

Md.: Damascus 29 inches, Gaithersburg 27 inches, New Market 35 inches

Southwest of the Beltway: 14-32 inches

Select totals in Va.: Dumfries 19 inches, Newington 23.5 inches, Centreville-Chantilly area 30-31 inches.

Northeast of the Beltway: 19-30 inches

Select totals in Md.: Calverton 23.9 inches, Crofton 22.5 inches, Elkridge 22 inches, Columbia 24-25 inchees

Southeast of the Beltway: 12-24 inches

Select totals in Md.: Waldorf 23.5 inches, North Beach 14 inches, Prince Frederick 15.5 inches, La Plata 15.5 inches, Hughesville 13 inches