Cold Weather Envelops the Nation's Capital

 

A Snowy Scene in Bethesda, Maryland

High temperatures in the upper 40s around the D.C. Metro Area yesterday and today have helped ease the memory of recent winter weather.  The two winter storms last week brought the Nation's Capital more snow (9.5") than any month since January 2019 (11.5”).  It was also more snow than in the last two winters combined (6.0"). 

This past Monday, January 10, was also noteworthy for being the coldest day in the Nation's Capital in nearly three years.  D.C.'s high of only 30° at Reagan National Airport on January 10 was D.C.'s coldest high temperature since February 1, 2019 (24°).  That was also the last time Washington, D.C. had a high temperature in the 20s.  

The Nation's Capital averaged just over four days with subfreezing January high temperatures from 2010 – 2019.  There were as many as seven such days in both January 2014 and January 2018, compared to no subfreezing highs in January 2020 or January 2021.  D.C.'s coldest January day over the last decade was January 22, 2014 with a high/low of only 19°/9°.  That was the last time the Nation's Capital had a high temperature in the teens. 

January didn't see as much extreme cold in the Nation's Capital during the 2010s compared to the 2000s.  Washington, D.C. averaged nearly five January days with subfreezing highs between 2000 and 2009.  With a monthly average temperature of 30.6° (combining daily high and low temperatures), January 2004 remains D.C.'s coldest January in the last quarter century.  By comparison, the last two January's have been warmer than average in Washington, D.C.

These recent trends help illustrate how rare days with high temperatures below freezing have become.  Not only has nearly three years passed since the last time Washingtonians experienced a daily high temperature in the 20s, but nearly as much time as passed since the last time temperatures fell below 22°.  The last time a temperature colder than 22° occurred at National Airport was on February 2, 2019 (18°).  My colleagues and I on the WUSA9 Weather Team are currently forecasting a high/low of 28°/19° on Saturday, January 15.