Weather Quiz

True or False.  May 2016 was the last wetter than average month in the Nation’s Capital.

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Answer to March 10 Weather Quiz question.

True.

Some Perspective on March 2017

March is the first month of meteorological spring and often features a wide variety of weather in the Nation’s Capital.  That includes snow and cold as well as summer-like heat and thunderstorms.  March 2017 has been no different with a few key weather headlines in the Mid-Atlantic Region.

Large temperature swings are fairly common during the month of March.  Following the March 1 high temperature of 80 degrees, the low temperature on March 4 was 26 degrees making for a 54-degree swing in temperature.  Low temperatures from March 10 – March 17 were below freezing.  To add to that, high temperatures remained in the 30s on March 14-15 making for the coldest two day stretch in the Nation’s Capital since early January.  NOAA data indicates average March temperatures in Washington, D.C. range from a high/low of 51/34 degrees on March 1 to 61/42 degrees on March 31.

Dating back to 1997, 12 of the last 20 Marchs have been warmer than average.  DC’s warmest and third warmest Marchs occurred in 2012 and 2016, respectively.  However, from 2013 through 2015, Washingtonians experienced three consecutive colder than average Marchs for the first time since the early 1990s.  The Nation’s Capital has had seven snowier than average Marchs – including this month - in the same 20-year time period.

Although rare, March can also feature summer-like heat in Washington, D.C.  For example, Washingtonians had five consecutive days with temperatures in the 80s from March 12 – March 16, 1990.  That facilitated the earliest ever peak bloom of the cherry blossoms along the Tidal Basin (March 15).  In 1998, high temperatures at National Airport reached the 80s four times from March 27 through March 31.

Only 3 months have been wetter than average in Washington, D.C. since August 2015.  That’s led to a rainfall deficit of more than 13 inches.  It’s vital for agricultural interests and gardeners alike that the Mid-Atlantic Region puts a dent in that rainfall deficit during the spring months.  Having above average rainfall in the spring would help alleviate some of the drought conditions before the summer heat arrives.  Fortunately, there are a few chances of rain for the Nation’s Capital over the next week. 

March Weather Headlines

Great Falls, Maryland

This March has lived up to its reputation as being a highly diverse weather month in the Nation’s Capital. High temperatures have ranged from 80 degrees on March 1 to the 30s on March 14 and March 15.  March 1 was the third earliest 80-degree temperature on record in Washington, D.C.

This March will also finish with another unusual distinction in the Nation’s Capital as being the snowiest month of the winter.  The 2” of snow that occurred on March 13-14 was more than the 1.4” that occurred previously.  Dating back to 1887, there have been only 22 winter seasons where March was the snowiest month.  The 2016-2017 winter will add to that list and be the first such winter since 2013-2014.  Some area residents may recall that March 2014 was the snowiest in Washington, D.C. since 1960.

Mid-Atlantic residents also experienced severe weather on March 1 due to a powerful cold front.  Although the DC Metro region typically sees most of its severe weather in the late spring and early summer, this year has seen an above average start to severe weather season nationally. From January 1 through March 26, there have been more than 300 tornadoes across the United States.  According to NOAA data, the United States averages approximately 1,250 tornadoes in a given year.  However, an average of only 144 tornadoes occur during the first three months of the year.

A prominent weather story that’s continued this month in the Mid-Atlantic Region is the ongoing dry weather.  Washington, D.C.’s rainfall deficit has grown to more than 13” dating back to August 2015.  The rainfall deficit is approximately 9” just since September 2016.  That’s led to moderate to severe drought conditions for parts of the Mid-Atlantic Region according to the Drought Monitor Index.

Although there has been with 2.2” of rain so far this month in Washington, D.C., March averages 3.48”.  So Washingtonians need more rain just to meet the March average.  Meanwhile, above average rainfall would help make up some of rainfall deficit.  The last wetter than average month in Washington, D.C. was May 2016.  Fortunately, there are several rain chances during the upcoming week.

The Basics of Severe Weather

Since the United States sees the majority of its “severe weather” during the spring months, it’s important to review some severe weather basics.  An article I wrote for the WUSA9 website does just that.