The Singeing of Washington, D.C.-- Part 1: A Hot Time In the Old Town Tonight, Then a Real Bad Storm

From the March 20, 2019, Washington Post "Weird Weather Saved America three times" by Gillian Brockell.

Frequently, when an invading country captures an enemy city, they occupy it, but not so when the British did so with Washington, D.C., during the War of 1812.

When they invaded on August 24, 1814,  they set the capital building on fire which at the time housed not only Congress, but also  the Supreme Court and Library of Congress.  Then it was on to the Executive Mansion for the same thing.

The next morning, they continued their arson and would have done more, except that a terrifying thunderstorm, possibly a hurricane,  hit and a pounding rain put the fires out.  High winds sent debris flying, injuring and killing several British soldiers.  Then a tornado touched down in the middle of Constitution Avenue, sending cannons aloft.

Real Bad Weather.  --Brock-Perry