Cooler and Wetter than Average?

Nationals Park, Washington, D.C.  (June 2015)

What meteorologists and weather enthusiasts alike find so fascinating about the weather is its ability to change dramatically – sometimes over a relatively short period of time.  Such has been the case in the Mid-Atlantic Region during the last two months.  Following the warmest and one of the driest May's on record in the Nation’s Capital, June was the second wettest and sixth warmest. 

 

June’s wet weather has continued into the first week of July across the DC Metro Region.  However, temperatures have remained cooler than average during the last several days.  Although May saw seven days of at least 90 degrees in Washington, D.C., and June saw 12 such days, there hasn’t been any 90 degree heat so far in July.  The warmest temperature Washingtonians have experienced this month was on July 1 when it was 88 degrees at National Airport (the average high for the date).  It hasn’t been 90 degrees in the Nation’s Capital since June 23.

During the 12 day-period from June 23 through July 4, more than 6” of rain was measured in Washington, D.C.  That’s approaching the combined average of 7.51” that falls in the Nation’s Capital during all of June and July.  In fact, the 0.85” of rain that fell yesterday made for the wettest Independence Day in Washington, D.C. since 2004.  Fortunately, the fireworks on the National Mall got off without any weather delays last night.  A persistent front has helped keep the Mid-Atlantic Region wetter than average with below average temperatures during the last several days. 

 

That’s completely unlike early July 2012 when there was an 11 day stretch in the Nation’s Capital with high temperatures of at least 95 degrees.  In fact, it was 100 degrees on July 5, 2012, and that began a stretch of four consecutive days that were at least 100 degrees in Washington, D.C.

Scientists at NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center aren’t expecting this July to be exceptionally hot in the Nation’s Capital.  In fact, their seasonal outlook for this July is for an equal chance of above or below normal temperatures in the Mid-Atlantic Region with a slight chance for the month being wetter than average.  Since July has already seen 2.2” of rain downtown and the month averages a total of 3.73”, it’s more than likely that the month will see above average precipitation.  My colleagues and I on the WUSA9 Weather Team will continue to provide people with the latest weather forecasts.