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Ten-Year Anniversary of TEN Snow Days in the 2013-2014 School Year

By MCS Staff

With just about everyone predicting above average snow this winter, and some predicting amounts as high as 40 inches for our area, we wanted to take a look back at the 2013-2014 school year, when MCPS had ten snow days.

A few years prior, in 2009-2010, Washington DC received a record-setting 56.1 inches of snow with many areas nearby getting much more, but the 2013-2014 was unique in giving us consistent snow throughout the winter. The first snow day came early, with schools closed on Monday, December 9th (followed by a second closure the next day). The last snow day came over three months later, on March 17th. Overall, there were 10 snow days, and the school system came up with a plan, and was approved by the state, that only required two of the days to be made up. They were made up on April 21st (“Easter Monday) and on Friday, June 13th (an early release day that became the new last day of school).

The WaPo’s Ian Livingston provided some very interesting facts following the active 2013-2014 winter:

* Both Reagan and Dulles Airports experienced twice as many days with at least 1″ of snow compared to normal
* Reagan National Airport received measurable snow on 16 days
* Dulles Airport’s 11 days with at least 1″ were second most on record (since 1963)
* Reagan National’s 8 snow events (of at least 1″) tied for the most on record (since 1945)
* It was Reagan National’s 9th snowiest winter on record (since 1945) with 32.0 inches, and 18th snowiest in longer D.C. records dating to 1888
* It was Dulles Airport’s 3rd snowiest winter on record (since 1963) with 52.8 inches
* It was Reagan National’s 2nd snowiest March on record (since 1945) with 12.7 inches, and 5th snowiest in longer D.C. records dating to 1888
* It was Dulles Airport’s snowiest March on record (since 1963) with 19.8 inches
* Many areas in D.C.’s north and west suburbs exceeded 50 inches of snow for the season

We are on a run of 6 of the last 7 years coming out to below average snow totals. Will this winter turn things around? Only time will tell, but we’ll have your winter weather forecasts and school closing and delay predictions, so stay tuned!