The Knickerbocker storm was a blizzard on January 27–28, 1922 in the upper South and the middle Atlantic United States. The storm took its name from the resulting collapse of the Knickerbocker Theatre in Washington, D.C., shortly after 9 p.m. on January 28, which killed 98 people and injured 133.
An Arctic air mass was in place across the northeast United States; Washington, D.C. had been below freezing since the afternoon of January 23. The front that spawned the cyclone was almost completely dry until after it crossed the Gulf of Mexico, making this storm unique among large southeast snowstorms. Despite the slow start, a low formed and deepened rapidly off the Georgia coast as the cold front reached the Gulf Stream on January 27. Heavy snow quickly developed from the Carolinas to Pennsylvania as the low drifted north to the Outer Banks of North Carolina on the 28th. Strong high pressure to the north helped to cut the system off from the jet stream. As a result, the cyclone took three days to move up the East Coast of the United States, which was double the normal estimated time used by forecasters of that era for storm systems that move up the coast. Snow reached Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. by noon on January 28, and continued into the morning of January 29. Temperatures remained in the 20s Fahrenheit (-5 °C) through much of the event.
Impactedit
Deep snow drifts near the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C.
An estimated 22,400 square miles (58,000 km2) of the northeast United States were affected by 20 inches (51 cm) of snow from this cyclone, which was over one-fifth of the total area that received over 4 in (10 cm) of snow. Snowfall was quite heavy in Maryland and Virginia. Richmond, Virginia recorded 19 inches (48 cm). Baltimore was paralyzed as it received the most snowfall within 24 hours since 1872.[citation needed] Parts of North Carolina also received over one foot of snow.
Impact in Washington, D.C.edit
The measured snow depth at the main observing site in Washington, D.C. reached 28 in (71 cm) while an observer in Rock Creek Park a few miles to the north measured 33 in (84 cm) with 3.02 in (76.7 mm) of liquid equivalent.[1] Railroad lines between Philadelphia and Washington were covered by at least 36 in (91 cm) of snow, with drifts as high as 16 ft (4.9 m).[2] This snowstorm is the biggest in the history of Washington since official record-keeping began in 1885 (although it is dwarfed by the 36 inches (91 cm) of snow in the Washington–Jefferson Storm of January 1772).[3] Among other disruptions, Congress adjourned as a result of the storm.[4]
Theater roof collapseedit
Interior of the Knickerbocker Theatre after the collapse of the roof as a result of the weight of snow from the storm.
The Knickerbocker Theatre was the largest movie house in Washington, D.C., built in 1917 and owned by Harry M. Crandall.[1] The roof was flat, which allowed the snow to collect on it. The theatre was showing the movie Get-Rich-Quick Wallingford. During the movie's intermission, the heavy, wet snow split the roof down the middle, bringing down the balcony as well as a portion of the weakened brick wall. Army Major George S. Patton was called upon to lead the rescue effort.[2][3] A total of 98 people died and 133 were injured.
^Gomery, Douglas (Spring–Summer 1997). "A Movie-Going Capital". Washington History. The Historical Society of Washington, D.C. 9 (1): 4–23.
^Ambrose, Kevin (2022-01-27). "How the Knickerbocker snowstorm became D.C.'s deadliest disaster 100 years ago". Washington Post. Retrieved 2022-03-03.
^Gormly, Kellie B. (2022-01-26). "When a Winter Storm Triggered One of the Deadliest Disasters in D.C. History". Smithsonian Magazine. Retrieved 2022-03-03.
^Ambrose, Kevin (2002). The Knickerbocker Snowstorm of January 27–28, 1922. Historical Enterprises. ISBN9780963950246. Retrieved 2006-10-24. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
^Fishbein, Gershon (January 22, 2009). "A Winter's Tale of Tragedy". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2009-01-24.
Further readingedit
Siddons, Justice (December 6, 1927). "Knickerbocker Disaster Worst in 50 Years". Washington Post.
Ambrose, Kevin (2013-01-01). The Knickerbocker Snowstorm (Images of America). Arcadia Publishing. ISBN9780738597904.
Ambrose, Kevin (January 27, 2017). "Haunting faces, scenes and stories from the Knickerbocker Theatre roof crash 95 years ago". Washington Post.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Knickerbocker blizzard of 1922.
Knickerbocker Stories
Major Blizzards in U.S. History
Footage of the Knickerbocker Theatre Disaster on YouTube
The Knickerbocker Theatre Tragedy, at Ghosts of DC
February 16, 2024
knickerbocker, storm, blizzard, january, 1922, upper, south, middle, atlantic, united, states, storm, took, name, from, resulting, collapse, knickerbocker, theatre, washington, shortly, after, january, which, killed, people, injured, category, extreme, noaa, w. The Knickerbocker storm was a blizzard on January 27 28 1922 in the upper South and the middle Atlantic United States The storm took its name from the resulting collapse of the Knickerbocker Theatre in Washington D C shortly after 9 p m on January 28 which killed 98 people and injured 133 Knickerbocker stormCategory 5 Extreme RSI NOAA 18 53 Weather map for the morning of January 28 1922TypeExtratropical cycloneBlizzardFormedJanuary 27 1922DissipatedJanuary 29 1922Fatalities98 fatalities 133 injuredAreas affectedMid Atlantic states of the United States Contents 1 Setup for the event 2 Impact 2 1 Impact in Washington D C 3 Theater roof collapse 4 See also 5 References 6 Further reading 7 External linksSetup for the event editAn Arctic air mass was in place across the northeast United States Washington D C had been below freezing since the afternoon of January 23 The front that spawned the cyclone was almost completely dry until after it crossed the Gulf of Mexico making this storm unique among large southeast snowstorms Despite the slow start a low formed and deepened rapidly off the Georgia coast as the cold front reached the Gulf Stream on January 27 Heavy snow quickly developed from the Carolinas to Pennsylvania as the low drifted north to the Outer Banks of North Carolina on the 28th Strong high pressure to the north helped to cut the system off from the jet stream As a result the cyclone took three days to move up the East Coast of the United States which was double the normal estimated time used by forecasters of that era for storm systems that move up the coast Snow reached Philadelphia and Washington D C by noon on January 28 and continued into the morning of January 29 Temperatures remained in the 20s Fahrenheit 5 C through much of the event Impact edit nbsp Deep snow drifts near the Smithsonian Institution in Washington D C An estimated 22 400 square miles 58 000 km2 of the northeast United States were affected by 20 inches 51 cm of snow from this cyclone which was over one fifth of the total area that received over 4 in 10 cm of snow Snowfall was quite heavy in Maryland and Virginia Richmond Virginia recorded 19 inches 48 cm Baltimore was paralyzed as it received the most snowfall within 24 hours since 1872 citation needed Parts of North Carolina also received over one foot of snow Impact in Washington D C edit The measured snow depth at the main observing site in Washington D C reached 28 in 71 cm while an observer in Rock Creek Park a few miles to the north measured 33 in 84 cm with 3 02 in 76 7 mm of liquid equivalent 1 Railroad lines between Philadelphia and Washington were covered by at least 36 in 91 cm of snow with drifts as high as 16 ft 4 9 m 2 This snowstorm is the biggest in the history of Washington since official record keeping began in 1885 although it is dwarfed by the 36 inches 91 cm of snow in the Washington Jefferson Storm of January 1772 3 Among other disruptions Congress adjourned as a result of the storm 4 Theater roof collapse edit nbsp Interior of the Knickerbocker Theatre after the collapse of the roof as a result of the weight of snow from the storm The Knickerbocker Theatre was the largest movie house in Washington D C built in 1917 and owned by Harry M Crandall 1 The roof was flat which allowed the snow to collect on it The theatre was showing the movie Get Rich Quick Wallingford During the movie s intermission the heavy wet snow split the roof down the middle bringing down the balcony as well as a portion of the weakened brick wall Army Major George S Patton was called upon to lead the rescue effort 2 3 A total of 98 people died and 133 were injured The disaster ranks as one of the worst in Washington D C history 4 Former U S Representative Andrew Jackson Barchfeld was among those killed The theater s architect Reginald Wyckliffe Geare and owner Harry M Crandall later killed themselves 5 See also editNor easter January 25 27 2011 North American blizzardReferences edit Gomery Douglas Spring Summer 1997 A Movie Going Capital Washington History The Historical Society of Washington D C 9 1 4 23 Ambrose Kevin 2022 01 27 How the Knickerbocker snowstorm became D C s deadliest disaster 100 years ago Washington Post Retrieved 2022 03 03 Gormly Kellie B 2022 01 26 When a Winter Storm Triggered One of the Deadliest Disasters in D C History Smithsonian Magazine Retrieved 2022 03 03 Ambrose Kevin 2002 The Knickerbocker Snowstorm of January 27 28 1922 Historical Enterprises ISBN 9780963950246 Retrieved 2006 10 24 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a work ignored help Fishbein Gershon January 22 2009 A Winter s Tale of Tragedy The Washington Post Retrieved 2009 01 24 Further reading editSiddons Justice December 6 1927 Knickerbocker Disaster Worst in 50 Years Washington Post Ambrose Kevin 2013 01 01 The Knickerbocker Snowstorm Images of America Arcadia Publishing ISBN 9780738597904 Ambrose Kevin January 27 2017 Haunting faces scenes and stories from the Knickerbocker Theatre roof crash 95 years ago Washington Post External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Knickerbocker blizzard of 1922 Knickerbocker Stories Major Blizzards in U S History Footage of the Knickerbocker Theatre Disaster on YouTube The Knickerbocker Theatre Tragedy at Ghosts of DC Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Knickerbocker storm amp oldid 1187467650, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
