Will DC's October’s Warmth Linger in November?

September and October were both warmer and drier than average in the DC Metro Area.  November is the third and final month of meteorological fall in North America.  This month has already gotten off to a warmer than average start with a balmy high temperature of 78° at National Airport on November 3.  Although today’s high temperature of 61° is appreciably cooler, it’s much closer to average. 

The average high/low temperatures in Washington, D.C. fall from 63°/45° on November 1 to 52°/37° by the end of the month.  According to NOAA, November’s warmest temperature in the Nation’s Capital (86°) occurred on November 1, 1974.  By comparison, DC’s coldest November temperature on record (11°) was on November 30, 1929.  Some may know that weather records in Washington, D.C. date back to 1871 and that official weather measurements are made at National Airport. 

Weather records that predate National Airport (that opened in 1941) were made in NW D.C.  The coldest November temperature observed at National Airport occurred on November 26, 1950 (17°).  Since Dulles Airport is located in a more rural location away from the moderating influence of the Potomac River, temperatures there often get colder than at National Airport.  November’s coldest temperature at Dulles Airport (9°) occurred on November 24, 1989.

National Weather Service data shows that Washington, D.C. averages 3.17” of rain and 0.5” of snow in November.  November largest snowstorm in the Nation’s Capital occurred on Veteran’s Day in 1987 when 11.5” of snow occurred.  However, the Nation’s Capital hasn’t had measurable November snowfall since 1996.  That’s D.C.’s longest stretch without accumulating snowfall in November.  However, November snowfall has little bearing on the upcoming winter season.

Washingtonians had an average amount of snow (0.5”) in 1995, while the 1995-1996 winter remains the third snowiest (46”) on record.  Meanwhile, November 1989 was a colder and snowier than average month that brought a total of 3.5” of snow to the Nation’s Capital.  By comparison, more snow fell in Washington, D.C. in November 1989 than in January, February and March of 1990 combined (2.6”).

NOAA is expecting the warmer than average conditions of the fall to continue over the course of the month with near average rainfall in the DC Metro Area.  The last seven Novembers have been drier than average in Washington, D.C., while the last two have also been warmer than average.