Notable February Cold Waves in Washington, D.C.

 

Photo Credit: Robin Beal

February is D.C.’s second coldest month of the year based on average temperature.  It’s also D.C.’s snowiest month based on average snowfall (5.0”).  These are some historic February cold waves in Washington, D.C. over the last 30 years: 

2016:  Washingtonians had five consecutive February days of temperatures that remained below freezing for the first time in 20 years.  From February 11 – February 15, the Nation’s Capital had an average high temperature of 29.2° with an average low of 17.6°, that are each well below average.  However, despite this cold stretch of weather, February 2016 finished with below average snowfall.

2015:  This was D.C.’s coldest February since 1979.  D.C.’s warmest temperature was 34° during a six-day stretch that temperatures remained below freezing on five days from February 15 – February 21.  D.C.’s average low temperature was 12.0° during this seven-day stretch, with a record low of 5.0° on February 20.  With 9.8” of snow, it remains D.C.’s last snowier than average February. 

2007:  A cold wave occurred from February 5 to February 9, when high temperatures remained below freezing on four of the five days.  D.C.’s signature weather event this month was the 1.8” of sleet that occurred at National Airport on Valentine’s Day.  Widespread sleet totals of 2”-4” were common across the D.C. Metro Area that made travel treacherous.

1996: This February was a particularly cold and snowy month in the Nation’s Capital.  It got off to a frigid start with highs below freezing on five of the first six days of the month.  D.C.’s high/low of 21°/5° on February 5 remained D.C.’s coldest overall day for more than 19 years until February 20, 2015 (also 21°/5°).  Low temperatures at Dulles Airport fell to record lows of -10° and -9°, respectively, on February 5 and February 6.

1995: Temperatures remained at or below freezing on five consecutive days at National and Dulles Airports from February 5 – February 9.  That followed record snowfall on February 4.