Record February Warmth !

This week has featured dozens of record-setting daily high temperatures across the eastern United States from Florida to Maine.  In addition, monthly record high temperatures were set in cities such as Tampa, New York City among a number of other cities.  Earlier this week, the DC Metro Area had temperatures more characteristic of early June than late February. 

High temperatures at National Airport reached 78° and 82°, respectively, on February 20-21.  It was also the first case of consecutive February days with temperatures of at least 78° in the Nation’s Capital.  The high temperature of 82° on February 21 also became the earliest 80° temperature on record in Washington, D.C., surpassing the old record of February 25, 1930 (84°).  It was also DC’s warmest February day since February 28, 1948 (82°).  It’s incredible to consider this warmth when 82° isn’t even DC’s average high until June 6.

Dulles Airport also set a record high of 80° on February 21, which was also a new monthly record high temperature.  It broke the previous record of March 8 for earliest 80° temperature by more than two weeks.  As warm as February 2018 has been, last February remains the warmest on record in the Nation’s Capital.  Washingtonians had a total of five days with temperatures in the 60s and six days in the 70s last February, compared to six days with temperatures of at least 60° so far this month.

The Nation’s Capital has averaged one February day with highs in the 70s and nearly three days of at least 60° since 1993.  That helps illustrate how unusual the warmth of last February and this February has been in the DC Metro Area.  This month’s average temperature (combining daily high and low temperatures) through February 22 is 44.3°.  NOAA expects warmer than average weather over the final week of the month, so February 2018 is well-positioned to rank as one of DC’s warmest.

February 2018 has also been wetter than average and that’s welcome news for Mid-Atlantic residents.  Following the fourth driest January on record, moderate to severe drought conditions had enveloped much of the DC Metro Area at the start of February.  However, with the wettest February in the Nation’s Capital since 2003, there has been significant improvement in the drought conditions.  However, much to the chagrin of DC Area snow enthusiasts, only 0.2” of snow has occurred this month.  That makes February 2018 the third consecutive February with below average snowfall.

Top Ten Warmest February’s in Washington, D.C.  (Source: NOAA)

1.  47.7° (2017)

2.  46.9° (1976)

3.  45.2° (1990)

4.  44.7° (1997)

5.  44.4° (2012)

6.  43.8° (1984, 1949)

8.  43.7° (1981)
9.  43.5° (1954)

10.  43.4° (1998, 1890)