Weather Extremes in November

The month of November typically features wide temperature fluctuations across the Mid-Atlantic Region. Temperature swings of 10 degrees above average one day can be followed by days with high temperatures 10 degrees below average all in the same week. Although rare, it has snowed in November in the Washington, D.C. region, while November has also seen temperatures in the mid-70s.

The weather was particularly frigid on November 16, 1995 with a high of only 42 at National Airport and of 40 at Dulles Airport. Lows in the 20s were observed and a trace of snow was recorded.  Then on November 16, 2001, Washingtonians experienced the opposite extreme with record high temperatures set at National of 76 degrees and at Dulles of 74 degrees. Fast forward four years to November 16, 2005, those in the Mid-Atlantic experienced another balmy day with a high of 75 degrees at National Airport.  Today’s average temperatures include highs and lows of 57/40 and 57/34 at National and Dulles Airports respectively.

Such dramatic swings in temperature are common during the month of November and are sometimes by violent weather.  On November 17, 2013, there was a major severe weather outbreak across the Great Lakes Region and Ohio Valley.  Over 80 tornadoes were reported with the highest number in Illinois, Indiana and Kentucky.  This helps demonstrate that while severe weather is more common in the spring, the change in seasons during the fall can also produce widespread severe weather.