Notable January Cold Waves

 

January is the coldest month of the year on average in the nation's capital.  Historically, D.C.'s coldest stretch of weather based on daily high/low temperatures is from January 14 - 19 (44°/30°), according to NOAA.  There have been some memorable stretches of cold weather where highs remained at or below 32° for several consecutive days.

2022:  The high temperature at National Airport was 30° on January 11.  That was the coldest high temperature since February 1, 2019 (24°) and the last time highs remained in the 20s.  Despite some cold days, low temperatures have not fallen below 22° in Washington, D.C. since February 2, 2019 (18°).   

2018: Late-2017 and early-2018 was a frigid time in the nation's capital.  For the period from December 28, 2017 through January 7, 2018, temperatures remained at or below freezing on 9 of 11 days (including on six consecutive days).  The coldest day during this period was January 7 with a high/low of 23°/8°.  Prior to this cold wave, the last time Washington, D.C. had high temperatures at or below 32° on five consecutive days was February 11 – 15, 2016.

2014:  A total of seven January days featured highs at or below freezing.  The coldest day was January 22 with a high/low of 19°/9°.  That was the last time highs remained in the teens in the nation's capital.  It was also the last time January had a low temperature in the single digits.  It remains the coldest January in Washington, D.C. in the last decade and was also a snowier than average month (6.6"). 

2005:  During a 12-day stretch from January 17 - January 28, D.C. had nine days with highs below freezing, with an average high for the period of 30.5°.  Low temperatures at National Airport were in the teens on nine of those days for an average low temperature of 18.25°.  The coldest day during this period was January 23 (23°/14°).

1994:  This was the coldest January in Washington, D.C. during roughly the last four decades and the last time the average monthly temperature (combining daily high/low temperatures) was in the 20s (28.8°).  Not only were there eight days that remained at or below freezing, but there was a particularly frigid stretch in the middle of the month.  Three days had high temperatures that remained in the teens from January 15 - January 21.  Moreover, D.C. had a high and low of 8°/-4° on January 19.  That remains the last time the nation's capital had a high temperature in the single digits and a subzero temperature.