A Tale of Two Seasons

 

The record-setting storm dubbed the “Superstorm of 1993” occurred 28 years ago this weekend.  Devastating and deadly severe weather occurred in Florida, with record snowfall from Alabama and Georgia to Maine.  Locally, the DC Metro Area saw a daily March 13 record of 6.5” of snow at National Airport, while the storm total of 14.1” at Dulles Airport remains its ninth largest ever.  Record cold followed the massive storm and March 1993 finished as DC’s snowiest March since 1978.

The weather couldn’t be more dissimilar this weekend with spring-like high temperatures in the 60s.  That’s on top of today being DC’s 13^th consecutive day without measurable precipitation.  The last time Washingtonians went this long without measurable rainfall was a 17-day stretch from September 13 – September 29, 2019.

Washington, D.C. had 0.29” of rain this March 1, but it has been remarkably dry since then.  The recent dry weather combined with warmer than average temperatures has led tree pollen to rise to very high levels.  This created uncomfortable conditions for people with seasonal allergies.  Winds have gusted to more than 30 mph on nine of the first 14 days of March.

While not record-setting, the dry weather conditions during the first half of March are noteworthy.  Not only are DC residents in the midst of the longest stretch of dry weather in more than a year, but February 2021 couldn’t have been more dissimilar.  Measurable precipitation occurred on 15 days last month, including eight days of accumulating snowfall.  The snow produced a monthly total of 2.8” – roughly half DC’s February average of 5.7”.  However, a total of 4.66” of rain occurred last month.  That was more than 2” above average and made February 2021 DC’s second wettest February since 2005. 

March is a changeable weather month across the United States as winter transitions to spring.  No place is that more noticeable than the DC Metro Area.  Average high/low temperatures rise roughly 10° this month from 51°/34° on March 1 to 61°/42° on March 31.  Following a chilly first week of the month, temperatures have been quite warm the last several days in the Nation’s Capital with record warmth on March 11.  NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center expects warmer and drier than average weather to continue for the DC Metro Area for the better part of the next two weeks.