A Brief Chronology of the Blizzard of '96 in D.C.

01-02-96 (Tuesday)

  • First long range weather forecasts say possible storm Saturday.

01-03-96 (Wednesday)

  • National Weather Service says weak storm will probably miss D.C. but local forecasters hint that maybe we will get it after all.

01-04-96 (Thursday)

  • Weather forecasters agree big storm will hit the East over the weekend. How much and where are open questions

01-05-96 (Friday)

  • Morning - TV weather projections show the storm hitting the DC area on Sunday, January 7. Estimates of snowfall varied from 2 to 6 inches.
  • 11:00 p.m. - TV Channel 4 (Bob Ryan) weather forecasts a foot and possibly two feet of snow.

  • 11:00 p.m. - TV Channel 4 (Bob Ryan) weather forecasts a foot and possibly two feet of snow.

01-06-96 (Saturday)
  • Record lows in Upstate New York and Vermont. Forecasters saying blizzard for East Coast is imminent.
  • Noon -Snow falling in Greensboro, N.C.
  • 9:10 p.m. - (Official) Snow starts at National Airport.
  • Midnight - Two inches of snow at National Airport.

01-07-96 (Sunday)

  • 9:00 a.m. - Snowing heavily. Five inches in the Lauren roof garden.
  • Noon - Nearly a foot of snow on 20th Street in front of the Lauren. 
  • Evening - D.C. streets, airports closed. Limited Metro service. OMB announces government shut down for Monday.

01-08-96 (Monday)

8:00 a.m. - Snowing moderately. Fifteen inches in Lauren roof garden.
  • Noon - Snowing intermittently. Eighteen inches in Lauren roof garden. Winds strong and gusty. National Airport opens.
  • 6:00 p.m. - Snow ends at the Lauren. Winds abate. OMB announces government shut down for Tuesday.
  • Weather forecast was for additional flurries on Tuesday, January 9, from a Canadian Clipper.

01-09-96 (Tuesday)

  • Alberta Clipper dumps up to four inches of new snow on parts of D.C. The Lauren gets 2 inches. City street and sidewalk cleaning set back.
  • Evening - OMB announced government shut down for Wednesday. Weather forecast for new storm Friday.

01-10-96 (Wednesday)

  • D.C. plowing makes progress on main arteries. Metro restores service on most lines. OMB announces government to open Thursday.

01-11-96 (Thursday)

  • Cleanup continues in D.C. Metro bus service restored for most lines.
  • Evening - Weather forecast is for more snow Friday. OMB closes government for Friday.
  • 11:00 p.m. Bob Ryan (TV Channel 4) reports snow in southwestern Virginia.

01-12-96 (Friday)

  • 7 a.m. - Freezing rain falling on The Lauren roof garden.
  • 10 a.m. - Snow falling on The Lauren roof garden.
  • Noon - Freezing rain falling on The Lauren roof garden.
  • 6 p.m. -The Lauren roof garden accumulated 3 inches of snow, sleet and ice during the day. Forecast is for sun and above freezing temperatures for Saturday.

01-13-96 (Saturday)

  • The weather was partly sunny and the snow began to slowly melt.