The summers of 2010 and 2011
were memorable in the Nation's Capital due to triple-digit heat and record heat.
While June 2010 was DC's hottest, July 2010 finished tied for third
warmest. July 2011 was DC's hottest on
record and finished with three days of at least 100° heat. That’s in addition to low temperatures that
remained a very oppressive 80°/+ on seven days.
There have also been
some very warm spring months in the Nation's Capital over the last decade.
March 2012 is a good example, with highs on four days in the 80s. By
comparison, it had only two days with temperatures =/<32°. April 2017
was also exceptionally warm with nine days of summer-like high temperatures in
the 80s and DC's first 90° April temperature since 2013 (91° on April
29). May 2015 was also DC's warmest.
December 2015 was a remarkable month in the
Nation's Capital because it had three days with high temperatures in the
70s. That's compared to only two days of low temperatures of 32° or
colder. The month also featured 11 days with highs in the 60s that
contributed to the average monthly temperature (combining daily high/low
temperatures) of 56.0°. That's 10° warmer than average and more characteristic
of April than December. February 2017 also became DC's warmest on
record. There were only five colder than average days for the entire
month. Meanwhile, it had six days with
high temperatures in the 70s.
While January 2020 won't
set a new record for DC's warmest, it’s poised to finish as DC's 12th
warmest. With a monthly average
temperature of 42.5° through January 30, and slightly warmer than average
temperatures today, this month is also well positioned to finish as DC’s warmest
January since 2006. NOAA expects the
warmer than average temperatures to continue through the first half of
February.
Warmest January’s in the Nation’s Capital (Source: NOAA)
1. 48°
(1950)
2. 46.8° (1932)
3. 43.8° (1937, 1890)
5. 43.6° (1990, 1913)
7. 43.1° (2006)
8. 43.0° (1998)
9. 42.9° (1974)
10. 42.6° (1949, 1933)
12. 42.1° (2017)
2. 46.8° (1932)
3. 43.8° (1937, 1890)
5. 43.6° (1990, 1913)
7. 43.1° (2006)
8. 43.0° (1998)
9. 42.9° (1974)
10. 42.6° (1949, 1933)
12. 42.1° (2017)
