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March 13, 2017

A Look Back at 10 of UVA’s Most Memorable Snowfalls

Skylar Frederick | University News

The Rotunda in the snow with two people playing on the lawn
This archived version of the article may not include all of the features that appeared in the original publication. The content has been adapted to meet current website accessibility requirements.

Editor’s note: This story first appeared on UVA Today on Jan. 21, 2016.

The University of Virginia’s McCormick Observatory has kept official snowfall records since 1894. Here’s a look at some of the largest recorded snowfalls in UVA’s history, as documented by photography and newspaper records.

1. Jan. 27-28, 1922 — 24.0 inches

January 28, 1922 The Daily Progress newspaper

2. Jan. 7-8, 1996 — 21.0 inches

Black and white image of the Rotunda and lawn covered in snow

3. Dec. 19-20, 2009 — 20.5 inches

Giant pile of snow from the Chipotle parking lot
Image via Mount Chipotle National Research Laboratory

4. Feb. 13, 1899 — 18.0 inches

February 14, 1889 The Daily Progress paper

5. Mar. 6-7, 2013 — 16.5 inches

The lawn and Rotunda covered in snow as the snow continues to fall

6. Feb. 13-15, 2014 — 15.9 inches

Students creating a snow fort in front of the Rotunda

7. Jan. 23-24, 2016— 15.5 inches

UVA was blanketed by winter storm Jonas in late January of 2016.

8. Feb. 5-6, 2010 — 14.7 inches

people walking on snow covered sidewalks

9. Dec. 12-13, 1989 — 14.5 inches

The Rotunda and Thomas Jefferson statue covered in snow

10. Feb. 2-3, 1996 — 14.0 inches

Two people riding bicycles during a snow storm


Other notable snowstorms not featured on this list include:

Editor’s note, March 13, 2017: This story has been updated to reflect today’s forecast. It first appeared on UVA Today on Jan. 21, 2016.