A Look Back at DC’s March 2021 Weather

 

This month has featured some memorable weather in the DC Metro Area.  Starting with DC’s longest stretch without measurable rainfall in 18 months, to record warmth and rainfall, among other things.  While this month will finish warmer than average March, it hasn’t been as warm as last March, which finished as DC’s fifth warmest.  Depending on how much rain occurs today, this month could also become DC’s fifth drier than average March in the last six years.

Washington, DC had no measurable precipitation from March 2 – March 17.  That 16-day stretch was DC’s longest since a 17-day stretch at National Airport (DC’s official weather reporting site) in September 2019.  It was a particularly welcome dry stretch for many DC Area residents, following what was a particularly wet February. 

Less than a week after DC’s dry stretch ended, record rainfall occurred at National and BWI Airports on March 24.  The 1.69” of rain that fell at National Airport made it DC’s rainiest March day since 2019.  Despite having only 0.66” of rain through March 23, DC’s record March 24 rainfall removed any chance this month had to rank among DC’s 10 driest on record.

There have been some appreciable temperature differences this month.  While temperatures in the Nation’s Capital fell to 32° or colder on eight occasions, 17 of the first 27 days of the month were warmer than average.  That will allow March 2021 to finish more than 3° warmer than average.  While three of DC’s five warmest March’s occurred during just the last decade, it’s noteworthy that seven of DC’s coldest March’s occurred in the late 1800s. 

March is often one of DC’s most varied weather months.  It can have appreciable snowfall and extreme cold, such as what occurred in March 2014 that finished with 12.7”.  It can also be downright warm as March 2012 that finished 10° warmer than average to become DC’s warmest on record.  DC’s coldest temperature this month was 28° on March 5 and March 7, while the warmest temperature was 84° on March 26, 2021.  While not a record for the date, it was DC’s warmest temperature since September 8 (87°) and DC’s warmest March temperature since 2006!

DC’s Warmest March’s (Source: NOAA)

1.  56.8° (2012)
2.  56.2° (1945)
3.  55.5° (1921)
4.  53.5° (2016)
5.  53.2° (2020)
6.  53.0° (1946)
7.  52.7° (1977)
8.  51.7° (2000)
9.  51.5° (1979)
10.  51.3° (1976)

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DC’s Coldest March’s (Source: NOAA) 

1.  34.5° (1885)
2.  35.4° (1872)
3.  35.6° (1960)
4.  37.4° (1888)
5.  37.6° (1906, 1883)
7.  37.7° (1892)
8.  37.9° (1916)
9.  38.5° (1896, 1887)