D.C.’s April Weather Roller Coaster

 

This month has featured a series of large temperature swings between February-like cold to warmth more typical of June in the Nation’s Capital.  However, the end result of such dramatic temperature swings is often a monthly average temperature that’s close to average.  Consequently, D.C.’s changeable weather this month could be forgotten going forward absent any temperature records.

Although today’s highs in the 80s and tomorrow’s highs near 80° are quite warm, they won’t be record-setting.  Starting April 22, all of D.C.’s record highs are at least 90° and remain that hot until October 11.  Highs of at least 80° today and tomorrow would give D.C. a monthly total of 6 days in the 80s.  That would be D.C.’s highest such total since there were 9 days in the 80s in April 2017 (D.C.’s warmest April on record).  The Nation’s Capital has averaged between 3 and 4 April days in the 80s dating back to the early 1990s. 

D.C.’s average daily high temperatures are at least 70° starting April 19.  That means D.C.’s expected highs in the 60s from Wednesday, April 27 through Saturday, April 30 will be below average.  Nine of the first 11 days of April were also cooler than average in the Nation’s Capital.  That was followed by an exceedingly warm stretch when D.C. had highs in the 80s on four of five days through April 16.  The coolest day of the month occurred on April 18 with a high/low of only 48°/40° and 0.91” of cold rain.  While a high temperature of 48° is more typical of President’s Day, Washington, D.C. has averaged approximately one April day with highs in the 40s during the last three decades.

Despite how streaky the weather has been this month, no 90° warmth has occurred in the Nation’s Capital.  Washingtonians have averaged one April day of 90° heat roughly every three to four years over the last 30 years.  However, none has occurred since 2017 and with none expected this month, that would mean at least six years will pass between occurrences.  That would be D.C.’s longest such stretch since seven years passed between 90° April heat in 1995 and 2002.  By comparison, temperatures at or below freezing during the month of April are relatively rare as well.  D.C. has averaged one April day with lows at or below freezing every two to three years with the last time having occurred on April 2, 2021 (31°).

With D.C.’s temperatures well-positioned to finish within 0.5° of average for the month, that would give the Nation’s Capital near average April temperatures in consecutive seasons for the first time in recent memory.  NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center expects May 2022 to get off to a cooler than average start in the Mid-Atlantic Region.