Could This Be the End of Winter ?

February 17 Snowfall in Germantown, Maryland  (Courtesy: Susan Granzow)

DC Area residents had a fleeting taste of winter yesterday with snow up to a few inches north and west of downtown.  However, temperatures are going to reach the 50° plateau today for much of the DC-Baltimore corridor and the snow will quickly fade from memory. 

February 2018 has featured beneficial rainfall in the Nation’s Capital.  Temperatures have also been significantly warmer than average.  This month has been 3.4° warmer than average, with 4.38” of rain through February 17.  That’s greater than the 2.62” of rain that DC averages during the entire month of February.  However, Washington, D.C. has had only 3.3” of snow since December 1, 2017, which ties for ninth lowest total on record.  The annual average is 15.4” of snow in the Nation’s Capital.

Despite the lack of snowfall the last two winters, there have been some extended periods of colder than average temperatures in Washington, D.C.  High temperatures remained in the 20s from January 7 – 9, 2017, and was the coldest stretch of last winter.  Meanwhile, temperatures remained at or below freezing at National Airport on 9 out of 11 days from December 27, 2017 to January 7, 2018.  That helped make December 2017 DC’s first colder than average December since 2010.  Unfortunately for snow lovers, the storm track was not favorable to coincide with the stretch of frigid weather in the Nation’s Capital.

Mid-Atlantic residents have had historic snow events over Presidents’ Day weekend on several occasions (1979, 1983, and 2003).  It snowed on Presidents’ Day in the Nation’s Capital as recently as 2015.  By comparison, February 2017 was DC’s warmest February on record and the rest of this month is poised to be significantly warmer than average.  Although snow is possible in March, it becomes increasingly difficult for accumulating snow to occur.  This can be attributed to the higher sun angle and warmer temperatures that coincide with the start of meteorological spring on March 1.

Given the scant amount of snowfall the last two winters, DC Area snow lovers should not give up as March approaches.  Snowfall records in the Nation’s Capital date back to January 1888.  During that time, March has been the snowiest month of the winter 23 times – with the most recent being just last year.  That said, temperatures could approach record levels with highs in the mid-70s this Tuesday and Wednesday.  No below freezing temperatures are expected in Washington, D.C. all week.

Record High / Record High Low Temperatures

February 20

DCA: 76° (1930) / 59° (1939)
IAD: 70° (1971) / 46° (1981)
BWI: 76° (1930) / 57° (1939)

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February 21

DCA: 75° (1953) / 51° (1954)
IAD: 70° (1997) / 45° (1981)
BWI: 74° (1930) / 49° (1981)