Ranking This January

NOAA's Temperature Outlook for early February

Since January 1, Washington, D.C. has been 6.6 degrees warmer than average.  This January is well-positioned to finish significantly warmer than average for the first time since 2013.  That’s despite having the coldest three-day January stretch since 2014 earlier this month.

Area residents remember that the last few winters have featured more snow than the average annual 15.4” in the Nation’s Capital.  However, only six days this month were below freezing in Washington, D.C.  According to the Capital Climate blog, Washingtonians have had 11 days this month where temperatures didn’t fall below 40 degrees – the third highest total on record.  Today has also set a new record with 17 consecutive January days above freezing in Washington, D.C.

Although no record highs have were set downtown this month, two record high-low temperatures were set at National Airport.  The warmest temperature this month in Washington, D.C. was 72 degrees on January 12.  With such mild weather for the bulk of the month, there has been only 0.4” of snow in the Nation’s Capital.  That total would be January’s smallest since 2006 when only a trace was observed (too little to measure).  Washingtonians average 5.6” of snow in January, but saw 18.8” of snow last January.  Meanwhile, 13 of the last 20 Januarys have featured below average snowfall in the Nation’s Capital.

Snow lovers shouldn’t fret, though, since February and early March can sometimes feature significant amounts of snow in the Mid-Atlantic Region.  In 2003, Washingtonians experienced a storm over President’s Day weekend that brought 16.4” of snow downtown with much higher totals west and north of the city.  March 2014 was the snowiest March in the Nation’s Capital since 1960 when 12.7” was observed at National Airport.

The statistics at Dulles Airport have been similar to National Airport as January temperatures were seven degrees warmer than average through January 26.  One record high temperature was set at Dulles this month, along with three record high-low temperatures that were either tied or broken.  Dulles Airport had only 0.7” of snow this month or roughly 10% of their January average.  While this winter has seen little snow and cold weather, NOAA expects some colder than average weather over the next two weeks.  And appreciable snow can still occur well into the month of March as Washingtonians have seen in recent years.