October Almanac

Estimated times for peak fall foliage

October is often a transitional month that starts warm but often ends with our first frosts in the Mid-Atlantic Region. The average high and low temperatures in the Nation’s Capital on October 1 are 74 and 56. By Halloween, the average high and low temperatures fall to 64 and 46 according to the National Weather Service. October averages 3.40” of rain in Washington, D.C.

Guess what ? The Nation’s Capital has seen measurable snowfall in October! Our earliest measurable snowfall came on October 10, 1979, when 0.3” fell at National Airport. Although a small amount, it proved to foreshadow that winter season which ended up with above average snowfall.

The earliest freezing temperature reading downtown was on October 10, 1895. Our latest 90 degree day was on October 11, 1919. In 2005, Washingtonians experienced the wettest October on record when 9.41 inches of rain fell. That followed the driest September on record at National Airport; Washington, D.C.’s official weather reporting station.

October can also see appreciable rainfall from the remnants of former tropical systems. Such was the case with the remnants of Hurricane Opal in 1995 that brought three weak tornadoes to Maryland during the first week of the month.  Sandy brought widespread damage and record rainfall to the Mid-Atlantic Region in late October 2012.

This month has gotten off to a mild start with high temperatures in the 70s.  However, that will change this weekend after a cold front ushers in cooler, more fall-like weather with highs in the 60s Saturday and Sunday.