March Gives Way to April

Lake Needwood, Derwood, Maryland

Last month continued the recent trend of being warmer and drier than average in the Nation’s Capital.  March’s average temperature was 47.2 degrees in Washington, D.C. (0.4 degrees warmer than average).  For the first time on record March was warmer than average and still finished cooler than February (47.7 degrees) in Washington, D.C.  The last time February was warmer than March in the Nation’s Capital was in 1984.

March 1 had a record-tying high temperature of 80 degrees, but that was followed by the coldest stretch of weather since early January.  In a rare occurrence, March also became the snowiest month of this winter, with a monthly total of 2.0”.  Also, March 31 was Washington, D.C.’s wettest day (with 0.96” of rain) since December 6.  A total of 3.19” of rain fell at National Airport last month (0.29” below normal).

Average high and low temperatures in the Nation’s Capital range from 62/42 degrees on April 1 to 71/52 degrees on April 30.  According to NOAA, April’s hottest temperature in Washington, D.C. is 95 degrees and that occurred most recently on April 17, 2002.  Washington, D.C.’s coldest April temperature is 15 degrees (April 1, 1923).  It’s interesting to note that 15 of the last 20 Aprils have been warmer than average in the Nation’s Capital.

Gardeners, farmers and baseball fans alike want to know how much rain can be expected this April.  Well, Washington, D.C. averages 3.06” and NOAA’s monthly outlook is for near average rainfall.  On rare occasions, Washingtonians have even seen small amounts of April snow; most recently, on April 7, 2007 when 0.4” accumulated.  The latest in the measureable spring snowfall in Washington, D.C. occurred on April 28, 1898 when 0.5” of snow was observed.

The frequency of severe weather in the United States also increases dramatically in April.  Based on NOAA statistics, the month of April has the third highest average number of tornadoes in the United States behind only May and June.  For example, the strongest tornado on record in the state of Maryland occurred on April 28, 2002.  That’s when an F4 tornado decimated the town of La Plata, Maryland in Charles County.  Fortunately, the forecast is for dry and comfortable weather on Opening Day at Nationals Park tomorrow.