Dynamic April Weather in the Nation's Capital

NOAA's Temperature Outlook

Over the last week, Washingtonians have seen what a high degree of variability that can occur during the spring.  Daily high temperatures have ranged from as warm as 83 degrees on April 1 (more characteristic of mid-June), to a chilly 46 degrees on April 5 (more characteristic of mid-February).  Although such wide variability is not uncommon during the spring, the disparity in temperature over such a short period of time is a little unusual. 

Following a warmer than average March (that enabled an earlier than average peak bloom of the cherry blossoms), many Washingtonians had hoped April would feature similar weather.  While the month began with the warmest temperatures of the year in the DC Metro Region, the weather pattern quickly shifted to being cooler than average.  NOAA anticipated that when they called for a 33% to 50% chance of below average temperatures in the Mid-Atlantic Region during the first half of April (through April 16).

Nevertheless, the cooler than average weather so far this month may come to a bit of a surprise to some as the Nation’s Capital hasn’t had a cooler than average April since 2007.  Prior to Tuesday, April 5, when the low temperature at National Airport was 30 degrees, the last time it was below freezing in the Nation’s Capital during the month of April was on April 4, 2013 (when it was 31 degrees).  When the low temperature fell to 32 degrees at National Airport on April 6, that was the first instance of consecutive days of below freezing temperatures in April since 2007.  Meanwhile, Baltimore set a new record low of 24 degrees on April 6 – breaking their old record of 24 degrees from 1898. 

Like March, April is a transitional weather month and can also see snow on occasion.  In fact, the potential exists for some snow showers across for parts of the Mid-Atlantic Region tomorrow.  Although snow sometimes occurs, snow accumulation is rare in April in Washington, D.C.  That’s primarily due to April’s higher sun angle and higher daily average temperatures compared to earlier in the year.  According to the National Weather Service, the last time measureable snowfall occurred in April in the Nation’s Capital was when 0.4 inches accumulated on April 7, 2007.

The Mid-Atlantic Region can also see significant heat and severe weather on occasion during the month of April.  Examples of both occurred in 2002 when it was 95 degrees at National Airport on April 17, 2002 – the hottest April temperature on record in Washington, D.C.  Less than two weeks later, Maryland’s strongest tornado on record occurred in La Plata on April 28.  Although some thunderstorms brought parts of the Mid-Atlantic Region some wind damage and hail yesterday, no additional thunderstorms or severe weather is expected through the weekend.