More Like Winter

Residents across the Mid-Atlantic Region and much of the country, have noticed a major shift in the weather pattern.  Gone is the warmer and drier weather that’s dominated much of the fall.  Instead, they are experiencing a significant amount of frigid air that’s been reinforced by arctic air from Alaska and northern Canada.  Although no significant wintry precipitation is expected in the DC Metro Region during the upcoming week, it remains important for people to rely on their favorite source of weather information (such as my colleagues and I on the WUSA9 weather team) for the latest updates.

The Nation’s Capital hasn’t seen measureable snow the way cities in the Upper Midwest and Great Lakes Region – like Chicago, Cleveland and Buffalo have, but it has been cold enough for regional ski resorts in West Virginia, Maryland and Virginia to make their own snow.  Meanwhile, there are a few chances this week for residents in the DC Metro Region to see a few flurries or light snow showers.

Although this month has been slightly warmer than average during its first 10 days, there has been a palpable change in the air.  With a high and low temperature of 39/26 degrees on Saturday, December 10 was the coldest December day in the Nation’s Capital in nearly three years (since December 25, 2013’s high and low temperature of 33/22).  During the first 10 days of this month, there have been four days with high temperatures in the 40s and 50s, with one day of high temperatures each in the 30s and 60s.  That compares to the same period last year when there were six days with high temperatures in the 50s and two each in the 40s and 60s.  The fact that last December was the warmest on record in Washington, D.C. by a wide margin makes the comparison to this December even more dramatic.

The latest Drought Monitor Index (released on December 8) shows moderate drought conditions remain across much of the Mid-Atlantic Region.  In spite of 1.4” of rain so far this month at National Airport, Washington, D.C. still has an annual rainfall deficit of 7.28”.  Helping illustrate just how dry this fall has been is that a total of only 1.66” of rain fell in Washington, D.C. during all of October and November.

Some beneficial rain has occurred earlier this morning.  This will also be the mildest day of the week with high temperatures in the low 50s.  Another cold front will approach the East Coast on Wednesday, helping usher in an even colder blast of arctic air for the end of the work week.  High temperatures will struggle to reach the freezing mark under full sunshine in the Nation’s Capital on Thursday and Friday.  The last time Washingtonians had a daily high temperature that remained below freezing in December was on December 16, 2010 (27F).