Extreme Cold in the Nation’s Capital

President's Day Snow 2015, Bethesda, MD

The last week has already featured two different snow events in the Mid-Atlantic Region, combined with some of the coldest weather in recent memory.  Although last month wasn’t as cold as January 2014 in the DC-Baltimore corridor, this week has already seen record cold with more expected the next few days.

A big difference between last winter and this winter is while last February featured more snow than this month has, February 2015 has featured more extreme cold.  There were no observed single digit temperatures at any of the DC Metro Region’s three major airports last February, while there have already been several such days so far this month.

As of this morning, Dulles Airport has observed four days with single digit temperatures this month – including two record lows.  Meanwhile, BWI Airport has also seen two days with record low temperatures in the single digits so far this month.  However, National Airport hasn’t been quite as frigid without any single digit temperatures since January 2014.  That can at least partially be attributed to its close proximity to downtown Washington, D.C. which is often a little warmer than more suburban areas (such as Dulles and BWI Airports). 

As if this weather hasn’t been bone chilling enough, a powerful cold front will usher in an even stronger blast of arctic air this evening.  This cold front will be similar to the front that came through the Mid-Atlantic Region this past Saturday.  Of course we all remember last Saturday’s brief burst of snow that came with really gusty winds.  The difference between that front and this evening’s front is timing.  There was no rushour on Saturday, but today’s evening commute could be adversely affected by reduced visibility with some brief snow showers.  Once the cold front passes, dangerously cold air will re-envelop the DC Metro Region.

We are talking about even colder temperatures than earlier in the week as highs tomorrow and Friday are poised to remain at or below 20 degrees – even downtown.  More significantly, overnight low temperatures downtown will fall to the middle single digits tomorrow night, while many suburban areas may fall below 0!

It’s exceptionally rare for temperatures to be in the single digits in this part of the country and rarer still to be discussing temperatures around 0.  According to National Weather Service records, National Airport hasn’t been below 0 in more than 20 years since January 1994.  Baltimore hasn’t been below 0 since February 1996.  Although, Dulles Airport fell below 0 twice last winter, it’s quite rare there too.  While much of the Eastern United States has experienced record cold and snow this week, the Western United States has experienced the opposite.  Above average warmth continues for much of the West and Southwestern United States.  

For the latest updates on this evening’s cold front and the expected record cold the next few days, you can rely on your favorite meteorologists including my colleagues on the WUSA9 weather team.