Putting the February 2015 Cold into Perspective

Glen Echo, MD     February 2015

As February 2015 comes to a close, it’s fitting that today’s temperatures have held nearly twenty degrees below normal.  That’s because this month has seen a plethora of record low temperatures as far south as Florida and as far west as Colorado.  This has also been the coldest month on record in cities like Syracuse, New York, and Bangor, Maine according to the National Weather Service.   Locally, this month will finish as the 14^th coldest February in the Nation’s Capital since weather records began in 1871.

February 2015 has had seven days with highs below freezing in Washington, D.C.  It was also 5 degrees at National Airport on February 20.  That was not only was the coldest temperature in the Nation’s Capital since 1996, but it also broke a 119 year old record low for the date according to National Weather Service records.  Before this month, no record lows had been broken during the month of February in Washington, D.C., since 1970.  That almost makes the casual observer forget Washington, D.C., had a record high of 68 degrees on February 8.

The average temperature (combining daily high and low temperatures) for the month of February 2015 was 30.3 degrees, which is the coldest February since 1979 (when the February average was 28.4 degrees).  The coldest February on record in the Nation’s Capital was in 1934 when the average temperature was 24.6 degrees.  February 2015 has had above average snowfall with a monthly total of 9.8”, compared to the monthly average of 5.7”. 

At Dulles Airport, February has been even colder than downtown, with five new record lows and ten days that featured low temperatures in the single digits.  There were nine days when the high temperatures held below freezing and one day where the temperature fell below 0.  In fact, when the temperature fell to -4 degrees on February 24, that was not only a new record low, but was also the coldest temperature observed at Dulles Airport since February 1996.  The average monthly temperature for February 2015 at Dulles Airport was 25.4 degrees, making it their second coldest February.  Their coldest February on record came in 1979 when the average temperature was 23.3 degrees.  

Looking ahead to March, some colder than average weather remains on the horizon.  However, there is some good news for those who are ready for warmer weather.  The average high temperature on March 1 is 51 degrees in the Nation’s Capital and that rises to 61 degrees by March 31.  The warmest temperature on record during the month of March in Washington, D.C., is 93 degrees.  Thoughts of spring should help the memories of the frigid February begin to fade.