Chilly March Weather and DC’s Cherry Blossoms

March Snow in the DC Metro Area

DC Area residents have endured some unusually chilly weather for most of March.  The Nation’s Capital has had 13 days with high temperatures in the 40s through March 26.  That’s despite average high temperatures in the 50s for almost the entire month.  DC’s warmest temperature so far this month was 59° that occurred twice.  

Temperatures in Washington, D.C. could reach 60° for the first time this month tomorrow, March 28.  It’s very unusual for DC’s first 60° March day not to occur until so late in the month.  That’s after January and February each had eight days with high temperatures of at least 60°.  In addition to having eight days with high temperatures in the 60s, DC also had another eight January days when high temperatures remained at or below 32°.  Last month was the third warmest February on record in the Nation’s Capital.  DC also experienced its earliest 80° day on record (82° on February 21).

Not only have high temperatures been below average on all but five days so far this month, but Washingtonians also experienced some unusual snowfall.  While not among DC’s ten largest March snowfalls, the 4.1” of snow that occurred on March 21 was the most to occur on or after March 20 since 1964.  With this month’s total of 4.5” of snow, March 2018 is only the 24^th time since 1888 that March is the snowiest month of the season.  However, March has been the snowiest month of the winter five times in the last ten years in Washington, D.C.  According to NOAA, the Nation’s Capital averages 1.3” of snow in March.

Low temperatures this month have been at or below freezing on eight days in Washington, D.C.  That’s compared to only six such days during all of February.  Last month finished 6.3° warmer than average while March has been 4.1° colder than average through March 26.  The net swing of more than 10° can help explain why this month seems significantly colder than normal in the Nation’s Capital.

Despite this month’s unusually chilly weather, no record cold has occurred in the Nation’s Capital.  The below average temperatures this month have caused the expected peak bloom of the cherry blossoms to be pushed back twice.  Following the warmer than average February, the original forecast from the National Park Service called for peak bloom of the cherry blossoms to occur between March 17 and March 20.  However, peak bloom is now expected to occur between April 8 and April 12.  Peak bloom occurs when 70% of the cherry blossoms are out.