Storm Records: District of Columbia
Every storm the National Weather Service has filed in District of Columbia: its floods, heat, cold, winter storms, hail, wind, lightning and tornadoes, year by year and county by county, each episode with its narrative.
The worst in District of Columbia on the map
The deadliest and costliest episodes on record here, colored by kind of event.
- Tornadoes
- Tropical storms and surge
- Floods
- Wind
- Hail
- Winter weather
- Heat and drought
- Cold
- Fire, smoke and dust
- Marine and coastal
- Other
The record
- Events
- 994
- Deaths
- 17
- Injuries
- 392
- Damage
- $187 million
Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.
Every year
Tap a year for every episode in it.
Deaths each year
By kind of event
| Kind of event | Events | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thunderstorm Wind | 344 | 3 | 43 | $31 million |
| Flash Flood | 118 | 0 | 2 | $17 million |
| Winter Weather | 88 | 0 | 0 | |
| Flood | 82 | 0 | 0 | $10 million |
| Coastal Flood | 67 | 0 | 0 | |
| Heat | 54 | 8 | 317 | |
| Hail | 38 | 0 | 0 | $500 |
| Dense Fog | 32 | 0 | 0 | |
| Strong Wind | 28 | 0 | 12 | $207,000 |
| Winter Storm | 28 | 1 | 0 | $5,000 |
| Excessive Heat | 16 | 0 | 0 | |
| High Wind | 15 | 0 | 1 | $321,000 |
| Heavy Rain | 14 | 0 | 2 | $3,000 |
| Frost/Freeze | 14 | 0 | 0 | |
| Drought | 11 | 0 | 0 | $5,000 |
| Cold/Wind Chill | 9 | 2 | 0 | |
| Lightning | 8 | 3 | 14 | $235,000 |
| Heavy Snow | 7 | 0 | 0 | $35,000 |
| Tornado | 5 | 0 | 1 | $202,000 |
| Extreme Cold/Wind Chill | 4 | 0 | 0 | |
| Blizzard | 3 | 0 | 0 | |
| Ice Storm | 3 | 0 | 0 | $20,000 |
| Tropical Storm | 3 | 0 | 0 | $128 million |
| Storm Surge/Tide | 2 | 0 | 0 | $75,000 |
| Funnel Cloud | 1 | 0 | 0 |
The deadliest
- Damaging Wind and Lightning Strike in District of Columbia, August 4, 2022A surface trough ignited numerous showers and thunderstorms that resulted in scattered instances of damaging wind gusts and sporadic large hail.
- Heat in District of Columbia, July 4 to 7, 1999High pressure sat off the Mid-Atlantic coast from the 4th through the 7th, acting like a heat pump drawing extremely warm and humid air into the region. Temperatures on the 4th through early on the 7th were oppressively hot, and extremely humid conditions added to the misery.
- Heat in District of Columbia, July 13 to 19, 1997The combination of antecedent dry weather, a persistent upper-level high pressure area, and the time of year produced a bona-fide heat wave in the District of Columbia during the middle of the month. Unlike events of previous years, the heat index was not quite as oppressive.
- Cold in District of Columbia, February 5, 2002A cold front moved through the region during the evening of the 4th. Cold air and a strong northwest wind pushed into the region behind the front during the predawn hours of the 5th.
- Heat in District of Columbia, August 1 to 3, 2006Excessive heat conditions occurred on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, August 1-3, in Washington, DC. Afternoon heat index values ranged between 105 to as high as 115 degrees. Two people lost their lives in The District due to the excessive heat conditions during this heat wave.
- Damaging Winds in District of Columbia, April 19, 2002A thunderstorm with hail and high winds moved through the District of Columbia during the afternoon of the 19th. Winds gusted as high as 70 MPH and at least 82 trees were downed across the city. Most of the damage was reported in the northern sections of town.
- Damaging Wind in District of Columbia, May 12, 1993A strong cold front approaching the mid-Atlantic region including the District of Columbia, produced violent thunderstorm winds and damaging lightning. The north part of the district was hardest hit.
- Damaging Wind in District of Columbia, August 3, 2002A thunderstorm with high winds moved through the District around 4:30 PM EDT. Several trees were downed in the southeast portion of the city. One large tree was downed onto a van carrying three people at the intersection of 17th and E streets SE.
- Heat in District of Columbia, August 16 to 17, 1997West winds circulating around a "Bermuda" high pressure system allowed temperatures to soar during the weekend of the 16th and 17th. Record maximum temperatures were achieved on both days. On the 16th, the previous record of 95 degrees was shattered as the mercury soared to 102.
- Winter Storm in District of Columbia, January 26, 2011A potent area of low pressure was located over the Tennessee Valley on the morning of Wednesday, January 26th. The warm front associated with the low triggered a period of mixed precipitation early Wednesday morning.
- Tropical Storm in District of Columbia, September 18 to 19, 2003Hurricane Isabel shut down Washington, DC on Thursday September 18 and Friday September 19. The city had days of preparation and many people including non-emergency government personnel were told to stay home. Tropical storm force winds spread north into the area by 4 pm.
- Damaging Winds in District of Columbia, July 29, 2023A strong cold front intersected a very hot, humid, and unstable airmass across the Mid-Atlantic shortly after peak heating.
- Flood in District of Columbia, January 20 to 23, 1996*** Potomac River Flooding ***High dew point temperatures melted the entire snow pack within 12 hours, with liquid equivalents averaging 1 to 2 inches. Snowmelt combined with 1 to 3 inches of rain caused the worst regional flooding in over 10 years.
- Flash Flood in District of Columbia, June 25 to 27, 2006A weak cold front settled over the forecast area from June 23 until June 27. Waves of low pressure rode northeast along the front. Flow in the atmosphere was parallel to the boundary, producing several rounds of training echoes.
- Flash Flood in District of Columbia, August 11, 2001Showers and thunderstorms with very heavy downpours formed over the District for the 2nd straight day around 3 PM EDT and remained near stationary over all but far Southeast D.C. through 6 PM.
- Tropical Storm in District of Columbia, August 27 to 28, 2011Hurricane Irene tracked up the Mid-Atlantic Coast during the evening hours of the 27th through the early morning hours of the 28th. Irene passed by just to the east of Ocean City, Maryland during the early morning hours of the 28th.
- Damaging Winds in District of Columbia, June 19, 2025A severe weather outbreak occurred during the mid to late afternoon hours of Thursday, June 19th, 2025, as a strong cold front supported by a seasonably strong upper-level jet intersected a hot, humid, and unstable airmass.
- Hail and Damaging Wind in District of Columbia, August 7, 2000A thunderstorm which produced winds in excess of 55 MPH and large hail moved across the District between 6:00 PM and 7:00 PM EDT on the 7th. In Southeast, 256 trees were downed onto roads, cars, buildings, and phone and power poles.
- Flash Flood and Damaging Wind in District of Columbia, June 12, 2003A thunderstorm with very heavy downpours and high winds moved through the District between 5:30 and 6:30 PM on the 12th.
- Flash Flood and Flood in District of Columbia, July 8, 2019A nearly stationary boundary set up near the Potomac River weak low pressure developed along the boundary.
- Tornadoes and Damaging Winds in District of Columbia, July 1, 2021Two rounds of severe thunderstorms produced two tornadoes, hail, and widespread wind damage (some significant) across the DC metro and central Maryland, with spottier wind damage extending into the Baltimore area.
- Damaging Winds in District of Columbia, July 14, 2023A cold front slowed as it approached the Appalachian Mountains, intersecting a hot, humid, and unstable airmass.
- High Wind in District of Columbia, January 14, 2006Very strong winds developed on the 14th due to a strengthening low pressure system off the Mid Atlantic Coast and a fast moving cold front that passed through the region early in the day.
- Damaging Winds in District of Columbia, July 22, 2020An upper-level trough interacted with a stalled surface front draped over the Mid-Atlantic resulting in scattered to numerous showers and thunderstorms developing in the lee of the Appalachians Mountains as early as midday.
- Damaging Winds in District of Columbia, July 4, 2006A frontal boundary sagged south into the Mid Atlantic on July 2, and combined with very strong daytime heating and instability, contributed to scattered severe thunderstorm activity. Many locations throughout the metro area experienced wind damage from the severe thunderstorms.
The costliest
- Tropical Storm in District of Columbia, September 18 to 19, 2003
- Damaging Winds in District of Columbia, July 29, 2023
- Flood in District of Columbia, January 20 to 23, 1996
- Flash Flood in District of Columbia, June 25 to 27, 2006
- Flash Flood in District of Columbia, August 11, 2001
- Tropical Storm in District of Columbia, August 27 to 28, 2011
- Damaging Winds in District of Columbia, June 19, 2025
- Hail and Damaging Wind in District of Columbia, August 7, 2000
- Flash Flood and Damaging Wind in District of Columbia, June 12, 2003
- Damaging Winds in District of Columbia, April 19, 2002
- Flash Flood and Flood in District of Columbia, July 8, 2019
- Tornadoes and Damaging Winds in District of Columbia, July 1, 2021
- Damaging Winds in District of Columbia, July 14, 2023
- High Wind in District of Columbia, January 14, 2006
- Damaging Winds in District of Columbia, July 22, 2020
- Damaging Winds in District of Columbia, July 4, 2006
- Damaging Wind and Lightning Strike in District of Columbia, August 5, 2022
- Tropical Storm and Flash Flood in District of Columbia, September 16, 1999
- Damaging Wind in District of Columbia, June 24, 1996
- Flood in District of Columbia, September 7 to 10, 1996
- Damaging Winds in District of Columbia, July 6, 2020
- Damaging Winds in District of Columbia, July 26, 2021
- Flash Flooding in District of Columbia, September 10, 2020
- Storm Surge in District of Columbia, September 6, 1996
- Damaging Wind in District of Columbia, July 18, 1997
Counties and zones as filed
The places filed most often, as the offices named them.
| County or zone | Events | Deaths | Injuries | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | 600 | 6 | 62 | $49 million |
| District of Columbia zone | 394 | 11 | 330 | $138 million |
Every year
More
Every tornado in District of ColumbiaEvery warning in District of Columbia since 1986River gauges in District of ColumbiaEvery state
Sources
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24.