January’s Warmth Lingers into February

January 2020 finished as DC’s 12^th warmest on record and warmest since 2006.  It was also the first January in the Nation’s Capital with less than an inch of snow (0.2”) since 2013.  Since November 1, there has been a combined total of only 0.6” of snow in the Nation’s Capital.  That’s the lowest seasonal total through January 31 since 1997-1998 when only a trace fell for the entire winter.  A trace of precipitation is less than 0.01” according to the American Meteorological Society (AMS).

Being Groundhog Day, the fact that “Punxsutawney Phil” didn’t see his shadow this morning and is calling for an early spring is ironic.  That’s because there hasn’t been much of a winter so far in the Nation’s Capital.  December 2019 was also warmer than average.  Winter weather enthusiasts shouldn’t give up hope yet as February is DC’s snowiest month of the year on average with 5.7”.  Six of DC’s 10 largest snowstorms have occurred in February.

While only six of the last 20 February’s have produced above average snowfall in the Nation’s Capital, all but two have had measurable snowfall.  February is also one of the drier months with an average of only 2.62” of rain.  There have been 13 drier than average February’s in Washington, D.C. dating back to 2000.

Average temperatures in the Nation’s Capital range from a high/low of 44°/29° on February 1 to 51°/34° on February 29.  The warmest February temperature on record in the Nation’s Capital is 84° on February 25, 1930.  DC’s coldest February temperature since weather records began in 1871 is -15 on February 11, 1899.  It’s worth pointing out that DC weather records have been kept at National Airport since it opened in the early 1940s and it’s never been below 0° there in February.  The coldest February temperature at National Airport is 4° (February 2, 1961).

The last four February’s have been warmer than average in the Nation’s Capital and that includes DC’s warmest on record in 2017 and third warmest in 2018.  Washingtonians had six days in the 70s in February 2017, while February 2018 featured DC’s earliest 80° temperature on record.  While a month could be warmer and drier than average as a whole, the right ingredients could still come together to produce a respectable snowfall.  However, NOAA’s outlook for February 2020 is for warmer and wetter than average conditions in the Mid-Atlantic Region.  Spring-like temperatures are expected to start the new work week.

Record High Temperatures (Source: National Weather Service)

February 3

Washington, D.C., National Airport (DCA): 65° (1927)
Dulles Airport, Sterling, Virginia (IAD): 66° (1991)
BWI Airport, Baltimore, Maryland: 66° (1932)

---

February 4

DCA: 70° (1991)
IAD: 70° (1991)
BWI: 72° (1991)

---

February 5

DCA: 74° (2019)
IAD: 73° (1991)
BWI: 73° (1991)

---

DC’s Ten Warmest February’s (Source: NWS)

1.  47.7° (2017)
2.  46.9° (1976)
3.  45.3° (2018)
4.  45.2° (1990)
5.  44.7° (1997)
6.  44.4° (2012)
7.  43.8° (1984, 1949)
9.  43.7° (1981)
10. 43.5° (1954)