90-Year Anniversary of Deadly Knickerbocker Blizzard
Saturday marked the 90th anniversary of the deadly roof collapse of the Knickerbocker Theater in Washington, D.C., resulting from a massive blizzard that struck portions of the South and the mid-Atlantic.
The weight of heavy snow proved too much for the flat roof of the Knickerbocker Theater, which was built in 1917. Drifting of snow likely led to an uneven distribution of weight that added to the devastating roof collapse that killed 98 people and injured 133 others late on Jan. 28, 1922.
Photo of the Knickerbocker Theater following the collapse of the roof from NOAA's Historical Photo Collection. Click here to see more incredible photos of Washington, D.C., covered in snow from the Knickerbocker Blizzard.
Washington, D.C., was buried by 28.0 inches of snow from the blizzard, setting a record for the heaviest snow in 24 hours. This record still stands today.
Other snow amounts include 19.0 inches in Richmond, Va., and 33.0 inches in Rock Creek Park, which sits along the Washington, D.C.-Maryland border. Railroads between Philadelphia, Pa., and Washington, D.C., were buried beneath as much as 36.0 inches of snow.
Up to 16-foot-high snow drifts occurred with the ferocious winds accompanying the storm between Philadelphia and Washington, D.C.
The storm shut down all forms of travel in the nation's capitol, forcing people to travel to work on foot in treacherous conditions. A 24-hour record snowfall in Baltimore, Md., brought travel to a halt as well.
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Huge Contrast in East: Unusual Warmth vs. Snow
Feb 23, 2012; 5:10 AM ET
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South, Tennessee Valley Severe Weather Risk
Feb 23, 2012; 5:09 AM ET
Locally severe thunderstorms will sweep through the Tennessee Valley and portions of the South.
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Misconception: Mobile Homes are Hit More by Tornadoes
Feb 23, 2012; 5:08 AM ET
In the wake of a tornado, it's not uncommon to see images of devastating damage in mobile home communities while surrounding site-built homes appear relatively unscathed.
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Winter Returns to the East Friday into Saturday
Feb 23, 2012; 5:07 AM ET
In a winter season that has been dominated by mild temperatures and lack of snow, the Great Lakes and the Northeast are in for a reminder that winter is not yet over.
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Northern Plains Snowstorm May be Brewing
Feb 23, 2012; 5:06 AM ET
There is some indication a storm with wind and snow may crank up affecting the northern and central Plains later this weekend.
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Snow May Reach Seattle Hills This Weekend
Feb 23, 2012; 5:05 AM ET
Snow could brush some of the hilltops around Seattle and will clog the Cascade passes this weekend.
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Another Tropical Cyclone May Target Madagascar
Feb 23, 2012; 5:02 AM ET
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Snowbound in. . . Africa?
Feb 23, 2012; 5:00 AM ET
Europe's extreme cold and heavy snow reached across Mediterranean waters to Africa, where severe winter weather was replicated in parts of Algeria and Tunisia.
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Tornado Season Coming Soon
Feb 23, 2012; 4:58 AM ET
The tornado frequency increases in the spring as the warm and cold seasons battle it out in the U.S.
Daily U.S. Extremes
past 24 hours
| Extreme | Location | |
|---|---|---|
| High | 89° | Harlingen, TX |
| Low | 5° | Chama, NM |
| Precip | 2.56" | Stampede Pass, WA |
WeatherWhys®
Avalanches are caused by a number of factors. Thick layers of snow and ice of varying intensity along a mountainside are weakened by the force of gravity and changing weather conditions. At some point, this large mass of snow is released down the mountain in a form of an avalanche.
This Day In Weather History
New England (1802)
Great snowstorm raged over New England. 4 foot depths piled up north of Boston, three large Indiamen wrecked on Cape Cod.
S.W. Ohio (1962)
Severe glaze storm: Ice 1" thick, $1 million property damage.
Rough Weather
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