What is typical Halloween Weather in the D.C. Metro?

Washingtonians can expect some pretty nice weather on Halloween.  Washington, D.C.’s average high and low temperatures on October 31 are 64°/46° respectively.  Temperatures were near average last Halloween in the Nation’s Capital (62°/48°).  Today’s high temperatures have been near average in the upper 50s and low 60s.

The warmest Halloween on record in the Nation’s Capital occurred in 1950 when it was 85°.  For perspective, 85° is Washington, D.C.’s average high temperature on August 26.  Meanwhile, D.C.’s coolest Halloween came in 1925 when the high temperature was only 41°.  By comparison, D.C.’s coldest average high temperature is 43° from January 2 – 22.  According to NOAA, the last time measureable rainfall occurred in Washington, D.C. on Halloween was in 2009.

The warmest temperature this month (86°) occurred twice on October 9 and 10.  Meanwhile, Washington, D.C.’s coolest October temperature occurred on October 27 (43°).  By comparison, last October’s warmest/coolest temperatures in the Nation’s Capital were 87° (October 19, 2016) and 41° (October 26, 2016).  This month had six consecutive days with high temperatures in the 80s (October 5 – 10).  Record high low temperatures also occurred on four consecutive days (October 8 – 11) in Washington, D.C.  This month also had high temperatures in the 70s on 17 days.  By comparison, high temperatures remained in the 50s and 60s on a combined 8 days. 

However, October has concluded with more seasonal temperatures over the final week in the Nation’s Capital.  Through October 30, Washington, D.C.’s average monthly temperature is 65.3° (combining daily high and low temperatures).  Once today’s temperatures are factored in, this October should finish as the third warmest on record in Washington, D.C.  Meanwhile, DC’s warmest October on record occurred in 2007 when temperatures reached the 90s three times.  Washingtonians also saw 11 other days in the 80s in October 2007, compared to six this month.

This month will finish as D.C.’s third consecutive drier than average (3.40”) October with 2.02” of rain.  The current streak of three straight drier than average October’s follows six consecutive wetter than average Octobers in the Nation’s Capital.  NOAA expects near average temperatures and precipitation for the Mid-Atlantic Region in November.

Washington, D.C.’s Warmest Octobers

1.  67.1° (2007)
2.  65.2° (1984)
3.  64.7° (1971)
4.  64.5° (1947)
5.  64.4° (1941)
6.  63.4° (1949)
7.  63.3° (1973)
8.  63.2° (1975, 1919)
10.  63.1° (2016)