An Unusual Week in DC

DC Area residents have endured an unusual weather week.  It got off to a frigid start with a high/low temperature of only 23°/8° at National Airport (DCA) on January 7.  Temperatures at DCA finally climbed above freezing to 39° on January 8 for the first time since January 3.  Overall, the Nation’s Capital remained at or below freezing on 9 out of 11 days from December 28, 2017 through January 7, 2018.  

The DC Metro Area also had freezing rain on January 8 which caused school closings and delays that lingered into January 9.  Although the precipitation was very light (only 0.06” at DCA and 0.02” at Dulles Airport), it was enough to create slick conditions on secondary streets and sidewalks.  That was following by some of DC’s mildest January weather in recent memory.

DC’s high temperature of 51° on January 9 was the first above average temperature in the Nation’s Capital since Christmas Eve.  However, temperatures over the last three days have been even more remarkable.  Washingtonians experienced a high temperature of 62° on January 11 (more characteristic of early-April).  By coincidence, yesterday’s high temperature of 64° was DC’s warmest January temperature in a year since it was 65° at DCA on January 13, 2017.  Dulles Airport was even warmer yesterday with a record-tying high temperature of 70° just five days after a record low of -1° on January 7. 

Today’s high temperature of 62° occurred shortly after midnight before a powerful cold front passed through the Mid-Atlantic Region.  The last time Washingtonians enjoyed three consecutive January days with high temperatures of at least 60° was January 29 – 31, 2013.  Temperatures have fallen precipitously since the cold front tracked east of the DC Metro and the spring-like temperatures of the last few days will be a fond memory for many.  The cold front brought appreciable rainfall to the DC Metro, including a daily rainfall record for January 12 (0.91”) at Dulles Airport. 

Aside from this week’s roller coaster temperature ride, a major story has been how dry the Mid-Atlantic Region has been.  The latest Drought Monitor Index has much of the DC Metro Area under moderate drought conditions.  That’s because of the prolonged dry conditions that have plagued the Nation’s Capital for the last several months.  Washington, D.C. hasn’t had a month with above average rainfall since last August.  Washington, D.C. has a rainfall deficit of 7.93” since September 1, 2017.  While yesterday’s rainfall was beneficial, a lot more is needed to offset the dry conditions.