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Remember? In Jan. 2000, more than 23 inches of snow were recorded at RDU

Twenty-four years ago this week, the Triangle was surprised by a record-breaking 23 inches of snow.

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By
Jessica Patrick
, WRAL Sr. multiplatform producer
MORRISVILLE, N.C. — Twenty-four years ago this week, the Triangle was surprised by a record-breaking 23 inches of snow.
Between Jan. 18-25, 2000, more than 23 inches of snow were recorded at the Raleigh-Durham International Airport, breaking snowfall records dating back to January 1893, which saw 20 inches of snow.
Record snow: Jan. 24-25, 2000

The heaviest snow began falling around 7 p.m. on Jan. 24.

The snow prompted dozens of Triangle area schools, colleges and businesses to close. Gov. Jim Hunt declared a state of emergency for all of North Carolina, and Durham city and county leaders enacted a curfew for residents.

The snow knocked out power to more than 100,000 homes and businesses in the Triangle.

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Many people who lived in Raleigh at the time recalled the fun of missing "more than a week" of school, according to some recollections.

Some said the snow was up to their waists.

Andrea Farrow, who shared childhood photos of playing in the record-breaking snowfall said, "We measured 24 inches in a few different places in our yard. It was a middle schoolers dream!"

Other records

The largest snowfall ever recorded at RDU in a 24-hour period was 17.8 inches on March 2, 1927. The most snowfall from a single storm was 17.9 inches in February 1902.

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