Winds of Change

Below Average Temperatures Expected Again March 17 - 23  Source: NOAA

March 2019 has gotten off to a very cold, almost winter-like start in the Nation’s Capital.  That’s not unusual as March is a transitional weather month that often sees large swings in temperature and precipitation type.  In fact, March often features more weather diversity than any other month in the DC Metro Region.

This month has already had accumulating snowfall of 0.3” at National Airport, DC’s official weather reporting site on March 1.  That was followed by five consecutive days of low temperatures at or below freezing.  March 2019 has also been a wet month so far with measurable precipitation on seven of the first 10 days, including today.  Fortunately, for those ready for spring, there’s going to be a major shift in the weather pattern this week.

High temperatures are poised to reach the 60s for much of the DC Metro area today, depending on how much sun breaks through the cloud cover.  The first nine days of March have been colder than average and prior to today, DC had not even been 50° since February 28.  For a sense of perspective, DC’s average high/low temperatures on March 10 are 54°/36°.  Since 1993, it has averaged 1-2 days with high temperatures in the 30s.  So far this month, DC has had two days with highs in the 30s, while the seven other days all had below average high temperatures in the 40s.  

Spring-like weather has been slow to arrive this March, with no temperatures in the 60s in the Nation’s Capital since February 24 (63°).  As chilly as this month has been, no record cold has occurred.  March 2014 and March 2015 each got off to an even colder than average start in Washington, D.C.  In fact, March 2014 became DC’s snowiest March since 1960, with 12.7” at National Airport.  March 6, 2015 was the last time DC had a March high temperature that remained below freezing (30°).

Six of the last 10 March’s have been colder than average in the Nation’s Capital, including three consecutive ones from 2013 – 2015.  There have been some notable exceptions, however, with March 2012 and March 2016 being DC’s warmest and third warmest on record.  While DC has already experienced 70° warmth this year (a record high of 74° on February 5), the last 70° March temperature was on March 30, 2018 (77°).  By comparison, DC’s last 80° March temperature occurred on March 1, 2017 (80°).

NOAA predicts March has a 33% chance of finishing colder than average in the DC Metro Area.  Temperatures, however, will feel more like spring this week with lots of 50s and 60s on tap.  Below average temperatures are expected to return the week of March 17 – 23.  Large swings in temperature and precipitation type are what make March weather so fascinating in the Nation’s Capital !