February’s Rare D.C. Weather

 

It’s fitting that February 2021 is coming to a rainy and chilly conclusion in the Nation’s Capital.  That’s because today is the 15^th day with measurable precipitation, making this DC’s fourth consecutive wetter than average February.  That’s the longest such stretch since DC had five consecutive wetter than average February’s from 1982 – 1986.

Despite being a wet month, none of the snowfall was significant.  In fact, DC’s February snow total of 2.8” is roughly half the monthly average.  Snow occurred on 12 days this month with the heaviest daily snowfall on Groundhog Day with 0.7”.  Areas west and north of downtown saw significant snowfall, but the predominant storm track this month resulted in the rain/snow line setting up in the middle of the DC Metro Area.  Consequently, there were a lot of days that had a wintry mix and led to the high number of days with snowfall but only modest accumulations.  

February will also finish cooler than average in the Nation’s Capital for the first time since 2015.  Fifteen of the first 22 days of the month were colder than average.  There have been several milder than average days this past week, but not enough to offset the cold earlier in the month.  It was 60° on February 23-24, giving Washingtonians the mildest weather of the month.  DC’s coldest temperature was 25° and also occurred twice.  Low temperatures were below freezing on 20 days this month.

In addition to February 2021 finishing as a wetter and colder than average month, there were some other key developments.  It’s relatively rare for Washingtonians to have a wetter and colder than average February that also has below average snowfall.  That’s only happened twice during the last two decades in 2004 and 2013 until this month.

A total of 3.82” of February rainfall – including liquid snowfall equivalent – has occurred in the Nation Capital through February 27.  However, this February will not rank among DC’s 10 wettest on record.  It’s worth pointing out, in conclusion, that three of DC’s snowiest February’s also rank among DC’s rainiest (1899, 1979 and 2003).  That’s because the liquid equivalent of snowfall is also measured as rainfall.

Rainiest February’s in Washington, D.C.  (DCA: Source – National Weather Service)

1.  6.98” (2003)
2.  6.84” (1884)
3.  6.47” (1897)
4.  6.17” (1899)
5.  5.71” (1939, 1961)
7.  5.62” (1979)
8.  5.44” (1971)
9.  5.32” (1903)
10.  5.31” (1896)

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Snowiest February’s in Washington, D.C.

1.  35.2” (1899)
2.  32.1” (2010)
3.  30.6” (1979)
4.  28.7” (2003)
5.  21.0” (1983)
6.  19.0” (1967)
7.  18.5” (1936)
8.  18.1” (1894, 1934)
10.  18.0” (1961)

 

2020-2021 Winter Wrap

 

This winter is poised to become DC’s fourth with below average snowfall out of the last five winters.  That’s despite a colder and wetter than average February that had 11 days with snowfall.  Since DC’s epic January 2016 blizzard, Washingtonians have had a snowier than average winter only once.  That was when the January 2019 storm produced 10.3” of snow in the Nation’s Capital.

Although not as mild as recent winters, the 2020-2021 winter had its fair share of mild weather.  December 2020 was warmer than average for a third consecutive year in the Nation’s Capital and ninth time in the last decade.  Conversely, DC’s coldest temperature of the entire 2020-2021 winter season was on December 26 (23°).

The coldest temperature all last winter was 22° and that set a record for warmest low temperature of the entire winter.  This season’s 23° is on the verge of eclipsing that record.  It hasn’t been below 22° in the Nation’s Capital since it was 18° on February 2, 2019.  Similarly, January 2021 was also a warmer than average month and finished 2.6° warmer than average.  That made last month DC’s third consecutive warmer than average January, which is the longest such stretch since 2005 – 2008. 

Despite several mild days at the end of February, this month is well-positioned to finish colder than average in the Nation’s Capital.  That’s largely because 15 of the first 22 days were colder than average.  Snow fell on 11 of the first 22 days, but only added up to 2.8” – or roughly half of DC’s February average.  What contributed to so little snowfall, despite its frequency, was the lack of a sufficiently cold air mass.  The rain/snow line often set up through the middle of the DC Metro Area and that minimized accumulations inside I-495.

While DC’s 2020-2021 winter snowfall total is 5.4”, less than half of the average, it’s still more than what occurred during the entire 2019-2020 winter (0.6”).  Despite the below average seasonal snowfall, this winter will finish with above average rainfall.  While January finished with a rainfall deficit of 0.88”, December had a surplus of 1.91”.  February already has a rainfall surplus of 1.09” as of February 25.  That’s before the rain and showers arrive tonight and continue for much of the weekend.  Fortunately, for those who are tired of the snow and ice, no accumulations are expected this weekend as temperatures will be too warm.

Weather Quiz

 

True or False.

Having a colder and wetter than average February with below average snowfall is a rare occurrence in the Nation’s Capital.