This winter will finish with the impressive distinction
of being DC’s first where all three months (December – February) have been
warmer and wetter than average. There
have been many warmer and wetter than average winters in the Nation’s Capital
since weather records began in 1871, but before this winter, it was the result
of one or two months that were much warmer or wetter than average.
December 2018 was 3.8° warmer than average in
Washington, D.C. That’s the seventh time
in the last eight years December was warmer than average. Appropriately, it was also wetter than
average with 5.82” of rain capping off DC’s wettest year on record, 2018. In addition, it was only DC’s third December
since 2000 without even a trace of snow.
Although January 2019 had a colder than average second half, the first half was so much warmer than average that the entire month finished 1.2° warmer than average. It was also a wetter than average month with 3.3” of rain (that includes liquid equivalent of snow) and a snowier than average month with 11.5”. The bulk of that snow occurred during the January 12 – 14 storm (10.3”). It was a prolonged snow event with snow observed at National Airport for 35 consecutive hours during the three-day period. January 2019 was also DC’s snowiest since 2016.
Although January 2019 had a colder than average second half, the first half was so much warmer than average that the entire month finished 1.2° warmer than average. It was also a wetter than average month with 3.3” of rain (that includes liquid equivalent of snow) and a snowier than average month with 11.5”. The bulk of that snow occurred during the January 12 – 14 storm (10.3”). It was a prolonged snow event with snow observed at National Airport for 35 consecutive hours during the three-day period. January 2019 was also DC’s snowiest since 2016.
February 2019 will also finish as a warmer and wetter
than average month in the Nation’s Capital.
This month is poised to finish more than 3° above average, making it the
fourth consecutive warmer than average February. According to National Weather Service data,
the last time DC had four or more consecutive warmer than average February’s
was from 1997 through 2002. Also, Washington,
D.C. has had 3.52” of rain since February 1, compared to the monthly average of
2.62”. While DC has had below average
February snowfall this year (3.7” vs. 5.7”), the 2018-2019 winter season will
finish with above average snowfall (16.6” vs. 15.4”).
A total of 12.64” of rain has occurred since December 1, making the 2018-2019 winter season DC’s wettest since 2002-2003 (13.84”). That shouldn’t come as a surprise, however, as 11 of the last 13 months have been wetter than average. Since February 1, 2018, DC has had a total of 72.16” of rain, or more than 30” above the average for the time period. Despite a few colder and snowier than average days, DC’s 2018-2019 winter season is unique because all three months were both warmer and wetter than average.
A total of 12.64” of rain has occurred since December 1, making the 2018-2019 winter season DC’s wettest since 2002-2003 (13.84”). That shouldn’t come as a surprise, however, as 11 of the last 13 months have been wetter than average. Since February 1, 2018, DC has had a total of 72.16” of rain, or more than 30” above the average for the time period. Despite a few colder and snowier than average days, DC’s 2018-2019 winter season is unique because all three months were both warmer and wetter than average.
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