One for the Record Books!

Beautiful November weather in Potomac, MD

Friday’s high temperature of 80 degrees not only broke the 67 year-old record for the date, but was also the first 80 degree day Washingtonians have had in November since 2003.  It was also significantly warmer than the daily average high of 62 degrees.  Other locations in the DC Metro Region also broke record highs on November 6, including Baltimore and at Dulles Airport, where it was also 80 degrees.  

Although the month of November averages over 3 days of at least 70 degrees in the Nation’s Capital, this week has been especially warm.  Yesterday was the fifth consecutive day of high temperatures of at least 70 degrees.  That’s the most since November 2003, when there were five such days to begin the month.  Friday became only the fifth time that 80 degree warmth occurred in Washington, D.C. after November 5 dating back to 1871.  According to the National Weather Service, weather records for the Nation’s Capital were measured downtown before being switched to National Airport in the 1940s.

Not only was Friday, November 6, the warmest November day in the Nation’s Capital in more than a decade, it was the warmest day since September 29.  Many other record highs have been set across the Eastern United States this past week in: New York City; Albany, NY; Elkins, West Virginia; Mobile, Alabama and Tampa, Florida among others.  The warmest temperature in Washington, D.C. all of last November was 74 degrees on the 24^th.

Although this month has gotten off to a warm start in the Mid-Atlantic Region, the rest of the U.S. hasn’t seen similar warmth.  Much of the central and southern Rockies have gotten appreciable snowfall.  That’s good news for ski resorts eager to open prior to the Thanksgiving holiday.  However, for those not eager for similar cold in the Mid-Atlantic Region should be pleased that NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center is predicting warmer than average temperatures during the next six to ten days.  The latest weather forecasts for the DC Metro Region can be found on the WUSA9 website.