Strong Wind in District of Columbia
Every strong wind event the National Weather Service has filed in District of Columbia, year by year, with the most significant episodes. Non-thunderstorm winds below high wind criteria that nonetheless caused damage or casualties.
The most significant on the map
The most significant strong wind episodes in District of Columbia.
- 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
- 28
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 12
- Damage
- $207,000
Every year
The most significant
Ranked by deaths, injuries, damage and size together.
- Strong Wind in District of Columbia, March 21, 2001A Nor'easter moved from the North Carolina coast to New England from the 20th to the 22nd. As it passed by the Mid Atlantic region, it dropped 1.5 inches of rain between midnight and mid afternoon on the 21st. After the precipitation ended, northwest winds gusted up to 45 MPH.
- Flood and Strong Wind in District of Columbia, October 8, 2005The remnants of Tropical Storm Tammy caused widespread heavy rainfall between 3 to 7 inches across the region. Numerous reports of flooded roads were received due to the prolonged rains.
- Strong Wind in District of Columbia, June 1, 2003A strong cold front moved through the region during the early morning hours of the 1st. After the front passed, winds gusted up to 55 MPH through early afternoon. The gusty winds downed trees region wide because the ground was saturated from recent heavy rains.
- Strong Wind in District of Columbia, March 31, 1997A nor'easter, languishing off the middle Atlantic coast, produced sustained winds of 25 to 35 mph with gusts to 50 mph in the District of Columbia. Minor damage was reported to buildings, power lines, and trees.
- Strong Wind in District of Columbia, September 1, 2006The remnants of Tropical Storm Ernesto brought strong winds and heavy rain to the District of Columbia. There were isolated reports of downed branches and powerlines in Washington due to the heavy rain and winds gusting as high as 45 mph.
- Strong Wind in District of Columbia, April 5, 2000Northwest winds gusted over 35 MPH across the District on the morning and early afternoon of the 5th. The strong winds caused a row house under construction on Florida Avenue NW to collapse. Two workers were injured, one seriously, after being buried in debris.
- Strong Wind in District of Columbia, November 13, 2003A strong cold front moved through the region early on the 13th, leaving frigid temperatures and strong winds. Widespread damage due to downed trees and power lines were reported throughout the District of Columbia. Two men were injured when debris from a torn roof fell on them.
- Strong Wind in District of Columbia, March 6, 1997The combination of deep low pressure over the Canadian Maritime region with arctic high pressure over the midwestern U.S. produced northwesterly wind gusts to 50 mph or greater on land and as high as 54 mph on the Chesapeake Bay.
- Strong Wind in District of Columbia, October 28, 2006Very strong westerly winds occurred on the 28th due to the passage of a large low pressure system. Winds gusted as high as 45 mph in the District. 3000 customers were without power due to downed trees and powerlines in th District.
- Strong Wind in District of Columbia, November 16, 2005A woman was seriously injured in Northwest DC when strong winds caused a tree branch to fall, knocking the woman down while she was walking down the street.
- Flash Flood and Strong Wind in District of Columbia, February 4 to 5, 1998A powerful nor'easter, laden with abundant tropical moisture from the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean, dumped between 2 and 4 inches of rain across the Washington DC metropolitan region from early morning of the 4th through late evening on the 5th.
- Heavy Rain and Strong Wind in District of Columbia, December 16 to 17, 2000A strong cold front moved across the region around midday on the 17th. Ahead of the front, heavy rain fell from showers and thunderstorms. Washington Reagan National Airport reported 1.06 inches of rainfall.
- Strong Wind in District of Columbia, June 26, 1997A line of thunderstorms produced scattered tree damage across portions of Washington. The line was associated with an air mass front which lifted very unstable air ahead of it.
- Strong Wind in District of Columbia, December 30, 1998A vigorous area of low pressure moved over Pennsylvania on the 30th, creating windy conditions across the Washington D.C. area during the morning. At 10:15 AM, a wind gust of 44 MPH was recorded at Washington Reagan National Airport.
- Strong Wind in District of Columbia, February 17, 1998The gradient between developing low pressure over the southeast U.S. and departing strong high pressure over New England produced east winds which increased to 25 to 35 mph, with gusts to 40 mph, during the afternoon.
- Strong Wind in District of Columbia, February 24, 1998An intensifying storm off the middle Atlantic coast produced sustained winds of 25 to 35 mph with frequent gusts between 40 and 45 mph over the Washington DC metropolitan region during the afternoon.
- Strong Wind in District of Columbia, December 12, 2000A vigorous cold front crossed the metropolitan area between 6 and 8 AM on the 12th. As the front passed, northwest winds gusted to 45 MPH at Washington Reagan National Airport and didn't begin to subside until midday.
- Strong Wind in District of Columbia, January 27, 2001A strong cold front moved across the region during the morning of the 27th. This front ushered in gusty northwest winds which remained over the region through the evening. A wind gust of 45 MPH was reported at Washington Reagan National Airport.
- Strong Wind in District of Columbia, February 9 to 10, 2001A strong cold front crossed the Mid-Atlantic region during the morning of the 10th. Ahead of the front, southwest winds of 15 to 25 MPH gusted to 35 MPH. Behind the front, winds shifted to the northwest at 20 to 30 MPH and gusted up to 50 MPH.
- Strong Wind in District of Columbia, March 6 to 7, 2001Strong low pressure over New England brought gusty northwest winds between 35 and 50 MPH to the Mid Atlantic region from the morning of the 6th through the early morning hours of the 7th. A wind gust of 44 MPH was recorded at Washington Reagan National Airport.
- Strong Wind in District of Columbia, March 21 to 22, 2002A strong arctic cold front pushed through the region during the evening of the 21st. This front ushered in strong northwest winds that gusted as high as 58 MPH.
- Strong Wind in District of Columbia, February 1, 2002A strong cold front pushed through the region during the afternoon of the 1st. For several hours after the front passed, northwest winds gusted between 35 and 50 MPH. The winds downed tree branches and wires in a few locations, resulting in isolated power outages.
- Strong Wind in District of Columbia, October 15, 2003On Oct 14th a cold front moved through the region. Scattered showers and thunderstorms produced heavy rainfall overnight. Some amounts were in excess of 1 inch. Gusty winds developed behind the front on Oct 15th.
- Strong Wind in District of Columbia, February 23, 2003A strong cold front moved through the region around dawn on the 23rd. This front ushered in winds that gusted between 40 and 50 MPH. A wind gust of 50 MPH was recorded at Children's Hospital.
- Strong Wind in District of Columbia, February 17, 2006A strong cold front brought very strong and gusty winds to the Mid-Atlantic on February 17. Wind gusts up to 50 mph occurred across the region. Scattered power outages occurred due to downed trees or powerlines.
More
Strong Wind everywhereEvery kind of event in District of Columbia
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.