Some Cold Weather Facts for the Nation's Capital

 

Last time temperatures were in the single digits in the Nation's Capital was on January 7, 2018 when it was 8° at National Airport.

Last time high temperatures on Christmas Day remained below freezing in Washington, D.C. was in 2000 (28°).  By comparison D.C. Area residents had a high temperature of 68° on December 25, 2021, that tied with 1932 for fourth warmest Christmas.

D.C.'s coldest Christmas Day occurred in 1983 with a daily high/low temperature of 14°/3°.

D.C.’s average high and low temperatures on Christmas Day are 47°/33°.  Since 1884, Washington, D.C. has had measurable snowfall on Christmas Day only nine times or roughly every 15 years.  The last time was on December 25, 2002, with 0.2”.  However, the last time Washingtonians had snow on the ground on Christmas Day was in 2009.  That’s because the Nation’s Capital had its largest December snowfall on record the week before.

A total of 16.4” was measured at National Airport on December 18-19, 2009.  Although more than half had melted by Christmas, 7” remained on the ground, creating D.C.’s last official white Christmas.