D.C.'s June 2022 Weather: How Does it Compare to Average ?

 

As June comes to a close, let’s reflect on some of the notable weather events of the month in the Nation’s Capital.  This month will finish drier than average with slightly cooler than average temperatures.  Record heat occurred on one day, but there were no record lows or days with record rainfall.

Despite measurable rainfall on 11 days in June, most of the rain was relatively light.  More than 0.25” of rain occurred only twice at Reagan National Airport: June 2 had 0.46” and June 22 had 1.66”.  D.C.’s monthly total will finish as 2.96”.  Since D.C. averages 4.20” of June rainfall according to NOAA, this month will not only finish below normal, but will also be D.C.’s driest June since 2017 (1.13”).  However, the 1.66” of rain on June 22 made for D.C.’s wettest overall day since August 20, 2021 (2.28”). 

There was a high degree of fluctuations in temperature this month in the Nation’s Capital.  Three days had highs in the 70s and four days saw highs in the 90s as of June 29.  Highs this afternoon could reach 90°.  Washington, D.C. had its hottest June day since 2012 with a record-setting high of 99° on June 17. 

However, not only did Washingtonians see a below average total number of June days in the 90s (four vs. the 30-year average of between seven and eight), but most days were cooler than average (16).  D.C.’s coolest June temperature of 58° occurred on June 20.  June 2022 will finish as D.C.’s first cooler and drier than average June since 2016. 

A “heat wave” is defined in the Nation’s Capital as three or more consecutive days of 90°/+ heat.  However, D.C. hasn’t had a heat wave this June.  The overall number of June days with highs in the 90s has little bearing on what the rest of the summer will be like.  A good example of this occurred in 2016.  While June 2016 also finished with a below average number of 90° days (five) in Washington, D.C., July and August 2016 more than made up for that with a combined total of more than 40 days of 90°/+ heat. 

NOAA’s outlook for July is for a warmer and wetter than average month in the D.C. Metro Area.  That would continue the recent trend of warmer and wetter than average July’s.  Two of D.C.’s Top 10 wettest July’s occurred during the last five years (2017, 2018) and six of D.C.’s Top 10 warmest July’s occurred just since 2010.