May Weather in March?

Washington, D.C.’s average high today is 53 degrees.  That’s important to know as temperatures will be roughly 20 degrees above that this afternoon in the mid-70s.  In fact, temperatures will be in the 70s for the next three days in Washington, D.C. – more characteristic of May than March!

Although monthly temperatures were slightly below average through March 6, there has been a major shift in the weather pattern.  A sprawling area of high pressure has situated itself across the eastern United States – characteristic of the “Bermuda High” which typically sets up during the late spring and summer months.  Also, winds blow clockwise around areas of high pressure in the Northern Hemisphere and the southerly winds that ensue on the west side of the high pressure system will play a central role in this week’s warm weather.

Prior to today (already the warmest day so far in 2016), the last time temperatures were in the 70s in the Nation’s Capital was late last year.  Temperatures will be even warmer tomorrow and Thursday as they approach record levels in the upper 70s to around 80 degrees.  Not since 2012, have there been consecutive days with high temperatures in the 70s during the month of March in the Nation’s Capital.  Overall, the last time there were consecutive days with temperatures in the 70s or higher in the Nation’s Capital was a five-day stretch that began November 3, 2015.

Such mild weather this week is in stark contrast to last March which was 1.5 degrees colder than average and saw only three 70-degree days for the entire month.  According to NOAA, March has seen an average of 78 tornadoes nationally during the last 25 years.  By comparison, March 2015 had only 10 tornadoes since conditions were generally unfavorable for severe weather amid the widespread colder than average weather.  In late February, NOAA called for warmer than average March temperatures across much of the country. 

The warmer than average weather across the eastern United States is facilitating an increased potential for severe weather in the southern Great Plains where the Storm Prediction Center says there is an “enhanced” risk of severe weather today in parts of Texas and a slight risk of severe weather tomorrow in parts of Texas and Louisiana.  That’s not unusual as the month of March wears on and the typically active severe weather months of April, May and June approach.  However, the rest of the work week is looking mostly sunny and stellar along the East Coast. 

Record High Temperatures to Beat:

March 9

Washington, D.C. (National Airport, DCA): 80 (1964)
Dulles Airport (IAD), Sterling, VA: 79 (2000)
Baltimore, MD (BWI Airport): 79 (1964)

March 10

Washington, D.C. (National Airport, DCA): 78 (2006)
Dulles Airport (IAD), Sterling, VA: 78 (2006)
Baltimore, MD (BWI Airport): 77 (2006)