Record Setting Warmth

DC residents longing for spring got a day yesterday that felt more like early June.   The Nation's Capital not only tied its March 20 record high of 83° from 1945, but yesterday was the warmest March day since it was 83° on March 23, 2012.  It was also DC's first 80° day overall since October 27, 2019.

Although the Nation's Capital doesn't average 80° warmth until late-May, Washingtonians can experience 80° days during the month of March since it’s a transitional weather month.  Such was the case yesterday with DC's first 80° temperature in March since 2017.  Temperatures this afternoon and tomorrow will be a good 25° - 30° colder than yesterday with highs in the 50s.

Fortunately, the DC Metro Area won't see any snow this month.  Normally, if you see a drop in high temperatures of 20° or more during March, there is a chance of winter weather and/or winter-like temperatures.  However, average high temperatures are currently in the 50s in the Nation’s Capital.  Following record warmth, though, highs in the 50s feel quite chilly.

There has been some frigid March weather in the DC Metro Area during the last decade.  March 2013 – March 2015 were each colder than average in the Nation’s Capital.  To add to that, March 2014 was the last time DC had two March days when high temperatures remained at or below freezing.  Although March has been the snowiest month of the year in Washington, D.C. four times in the last decade, no measureable snowfall will occur this year.  That’s quite remarkable considering the Nation’s Capital has had at least a trace of snow in all but three March’s since 2000.

On the other hand, March has featured quite a bit of warm weather in recent years.  Two of DC’s five warmest March’s on record occurred in just the last decade, including DC’s warmest March in 2012.  That was the last time the cherry blossoms reached peak bloom as early as March 20 – as they did this year – according to the National Park Service.  Yesterday’s record tying high temperature of 83° felt wonderful to many people eager for the warmer weather of the spring and summer months.  According to the National Weather Service, DC’s average high temperature doesn’t reach 83° until June 10.