PHOTOS: Snow, ice storm turns DC region into winter wonderland

By WTOP Staff
January 26, 2026 | 7:58 AM

Workers clear snow outside the U.S. Capitol on January 26, 2026 in Washington, DC. A massive winter storm brought frigid temperatures, ice, and snow to millions of Americans across the nation. The storm has left at least 10 people dead and hundreds of thousands without power. (Photo by Heather Diehl/Getty Images)

A crew uses a snowblower and small excavators to clear sidewalks at the intersection of Interstate 495 and University Boulevard East following a winter storm on January 26, 2026 in Silver Spring, Maryland. A massive winter storm is expected to bring frigid temperatures, ice, and snow to millions of Americans across the nation. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Tourists take pictures of the White House behind a security fence on January 27, 2026. Perilously cold temperatures threatened millions of Americans in the wake of a sprawling winter storm. A frigid, life-threatening Arctic air mass could delay recovery as municipalities from New Mexico to Maine tried to dig out following the storm, which dropped a vicious cocktail of heavy snow and wind along with freezing rain and sleet. (Photo by Oliver Contreras / AFP via Getty Images)

This aerial view shows a snow-covered Washington, DC, including the Lincoln Monument, the Kennedy Center, the Potomac River and the National Mall from Air Force One on January 27, 2026. President Trump is on his way to Clive, Iowa to deliver a speech on the economy and energy. (Photo by Brendan SMIALOWSKI / AFP via Getty Images)

The sun sets over the Wharf in the District from the roof of Whiskey Charlie's. (WTOP/Alan Etter)

WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 25: Children play football on the West Front of the US Capitol on January 25, 2026 in Washington, DC. A massive winter storm is expected to bring frigid temperatures, ice, and snow to millions of Americans across the nation. (Photo by Al Drago/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 25: Collin Sabine, from Washington, DC rides a snowboard holding an American flag while being pulled on the West Front of the US Capitol on January 25, 2026 in Washington, DC. A massive winter storm is expected to bring frigid temperatures, ice, and snow to millions of Americans across the nation. (Photo by Al Drago/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 25: Jonnie Plass snowboards on the stairs near the Lincoln Memorial on January 25, 2026 in Washington, DC. A massive winter storm is bringing frigid temperatures, ice, and snow to nearly 200 million Americans from Texas to New England. (Photo by Alex Kent/Getty Images)

Snow blankets the headstones in Arlington National Cemetery, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

People walk past the Marine Corps War Memorial as snow falls, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

A person cross country skies during a snowstorm, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

Snow plows clear Interstate 395, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

People participate in a snowball fight in Meridian Hill Park in Washington, DC, on January 25, 2026. A massive winter storm on January 24 dumped snow and freezing rain from New Mexico to North Carolina as it swept across the United States towards the northeast, threatening tens of millions of Americans with blackouts, transportation chaos and bone-chilling cold. After battering the country's southwest and central areas, the storm system began to hit the heavily populated mid-Atlantic and northeastern states as a frigid air mass settled in across the nation. (Photo by Oliver Contreras/AFP via Getty Images) — People participate in a snowball fight in Meridian Hill Park in Washington, DC, on January 25, 2026. A massive winter storm on January 24 dumped snow and freezing rain from New Mexico to North Carolina as it swept across the United States towards the northeast, threatening tens of millions of Americans with blackouts, transportation chaos and bone-chilling cold. After battering the country's southwest and central areas, the storm system began to hit the heavily populated mid-Atlantic and northeastern states as a frigid air mass settled in across the nation. (Photo by Oliver Contreras / AFP via Getty Images)

A man walks along a path as snow falls in Washington, DC, on January 25, 2026. A massive winter storm on January 24 dumped snow and freezing rain from New Mexico to North Carolina as it swept across the United States towards the northeast, threatening tens of millions of Americans with blackouts, transportation chaos and bone-chilling cold. After battering the country's southwest and central areas, the storm system began to hit the heavily populated mid-Atlantic and northeastern states as a frigid air mass settled in across the nation. (Photo by Amid FARAHI/AFP via Getty Images) — A man walks along a path as snow falls in Washington, DC, on January 25, 2026. A massive winter storm on January 24 dumped snow and freezing rain from New Mexico to North Carolina as it swept across the United States towards the northeast, threatening tens of millions of Americans with blackouts, transportation chaos and bone-chilling cold. After battering the country's southwest and central areas, the storm system began to hit the heavily populated mid-Atlantic and northeastern states as a frigid air mass settled in across the nation. (Photo by Amid FARAHI / AFP via Getty Images)

The Mirala family goes out for a walk in Chevy Chase during a winter storm.

Members of the Mirala family take their dog during a snowy walk in Montgomery County, Maryland.

WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 25: Children play in the snow near the US Capitol on January 25, 2026 in Washington, DC. A massive winter storm is expected to bring frigid temperatures, ice, and snow to millions of Americans across the nation. (Photo by Anna Rose Layden/Getty Images)

A view of a snow covered National Mall in Washington, DC, on January 25, 2026. A massive winter storm on January 24 dumped snow and freezing rain from New Mexico to North Carolina as it swept across the United States towards the northeast, threatening tens of millions of Americans with blackouts, transportation chaos and bone-chilling cold. After battering the country's southwest and central areas, the storm system began to hit the heavily populated mid-Atlantic and northeastern states as a frigid air mass settled in across the nation. (Photo by Amid FARAHI/AFP via Getty Images) — A view of a snow covered National Mall in Washington, DC, on January 25, 2026. A massive winter storm on January 24 dumped snow and freezing rain from New Mexico to North Carolina as it swept across the United States towards the northeast, threatening tens of millions of Americans with blackouts, transportation chaos and bone-chilling cold. After battering the country's southwest and central areas, the storm system began to hit the heavily populated mid-Atlantic and northeastern states as a frigid air mass settled in across the nation. (Photo by Amid FARAHI / AFP via Getty Images)

WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 25: An Architect of the Capitol worker clears snow from the West front of the U.S. Capitol on January, 25, 2026 in Washington, DC. A massive winter storm is bringing frigid temperatures, ice, and snow to nearly 200 million Americans from Texas to New England. (Photo by Kent Nishimura/Getty Images) — WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 25: An Architect of the Capitol worker clears snow from the West front of the U.S. Capitol on January, 25, 2026 in Washington, DC. A massive winter storm is bringing frigid temperatures, ice, and snow to nearly 200 million Americans from Texas to New England.. (Photo by Kent Nishimura/Getty Images)

A young boy sits in a fort built out of snow in the D.C. area on Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026.

WTOP's Dave Dildine measured nearly 5 inches of snow in Chevy Chase just before 9 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026.

A little girl builds a structure in the snow in Germantown, Maryland, on Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026.

A plow clears a parking lot in Gaithersburg, Maryland, on Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026. (WTOP/Steve Dresner)

A car spins out in Gaithersburg, Maryland, on Sunday, Jan. 25, 2025. (WTOP/Steve Dresner) — A car spins out in Gaithersburg, Maryland, on Sunday Jan. 25, 2025.

A couple walks in the snow in Arlington, Virginia, on Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026. (WTOP/Sandy Kozel)

Skye frolics in the snow in Bowie, Maryland. (WTOP/Anne Kramer) — Skye frolics in the snow in Bowie, Maryland, (WTOP/Anne Kramer)

Birds land on a balcony in Upper Marlboro, Maryland. (WTOP/Dan Ronan)

Emmett plays in the snow in a Chinatown park in the District. (WTOP/Bill McFarland)

A worker clears a sidewalk in Friendship Heights, Maryland, on Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026. (WTOP/Giang Nguyen)

A Metrobus travels through Chevy Chase, Maryland, on Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026. (WTOP/Julia Ziegler)

A small plow clears the area in front of a story in Chevy Chase, Maryland, on Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026. (WTOP/Julia Ziegler)

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Snow and sleet poured into the D.C. area Sunday from a potent winter storm that’s now setting the region up for a deep freeze anticipated to last for a period of several days.

D.C. region residents and their pets braved the below-freezing temperatures to romp in the snowfall and take in the scenery. Travel remained dangerous and some braved the roads, but most people stayed home.

Take a look at photos from WTOP staff, listeners and other professional photographers that captured the winter wonderland.

Washington archbishop removes priest as exorcist after comments on UFOs and demons

June 3, 2026 | 7:22 PM

The Catholic archbishop of Washington, D.C., Cardinal Robert McElroy, on Wednesday removed a well-known priest as an exorcist of the archdiocese after he made public comments suggesting that UFO sightings were the work of demons. McElroy said the archdiocese also was cutting ties with the St. Michael Center for Spiritual Renewal, a Washington-based nonprofit headed by the priest, Monsignor Stephen Rossetti.

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