D.C.’s Record November Warmth

 

Autumn in Bethesda, Maryland

November has gotten off to an exceptionally warm start in the Nation’s Capital with highs in the 70s expected for a seventh consecutive day today.  Record-setting warmth will occur with highs in the mid-70s to near 80° this afternoon.  It hasn’t been 80° in Washington, D.C. during the month of November since November 3, 2016.

Whether or not D.C. reaches 80° today, today’s highs in the 70s will tie 2020 for the highest such total over the last two decades at seven days.  Not since November 2001 has the Nation’s Capital had more days in the 70s with nine.  D.C. has averaged between 3 and 4 November days in the 70s over the last 30 years, according to NOAA.  However, there have been only five November days in the 80s in the Nation’s Capital over the same time period, for an average of one such day every five to six years.

By comparison, the Nation’s Capital averages nearly two November days at or below freezing, which underscores how rare 80° warmth is this time of year.  That’s especially true with the decreasing amount and intensity of daylight as the month wears on.  NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center’s 6 – 10 day temperature outlook calls for a major shift to cooler than average temperatures not only for the Nation’s Capital, but for much of the country next week.

This type of record-setting warmth does not last very long before a course-correction occurs.  The question remains whether the exceptionally warm first 7 - 10 days of November is enough to help this month rank among D.C.’s 15 warmest.  Nine of D.C.’s 15 warmest Novembers have occurred in just the last 30 years, including two over the last decade.  However, last November finished 2° cooler than average in the Nation’s Capital.

Since November has gotten off to such a warm start in the D.C. Metro Area, it’s quite possible this month will finish as a warmer than average month.  Last month serves as an example with D.C.’s cold start to October from which the month never recovered and was D.C.’s coolest since 2003. 

DC’s Warmest Novembers (Source: National Weather Service)

1.  54.8° (2001)
2.  54.4° (1979, 1975)
4.  54.3° (2020, 1985)
6.  54.0° (1931)
7.  53.7° (2015)
8.  53.3° (1994)
9.  53.1° (2003, 1999)
11.  52.6° (2016)
12.  52.4° (2011)
13.  52.2° (2009, 1978)
15.  52.0° (1990)