D.C.’s Warm and Dry Start to 2023

 

The Washington Monument as seen from the National Mall

January 2023 will finish as the third warmest on record in the Nation’s Capital and warmest since 1950.  Only January 14 was colder than average, just barely.  It has also been a drier than average month in Washington, D.C.  Warmer and drier than average weather is not a good combination for winter weather enthusiasts. 

No measureable snowfall has occurred so far this winter in the Nation’s Capital.  While no measurable snowfall through the end of January is unusual, it isn’t record setting.  The latest first accumulating snowfall in the Nation’s Capital was on February 23, 1973 (0.1”), according to the National Weather Service. 

What stands out about this month is the almost daily warmer than average weather.  Although only one day of record warmth occurred in the Nation’s Capital (69° on January 3), all but seven days have remained above freezing.  January is normally the coldest month of the year, so it’s remarkable to remain above freezing for so much of it.  D.C.’s coldest temperature this month was 29° on January 15 and 16.  That’s helped produce an average monthly temperature (combining daily high/low temperatures) of 45.3°.

In addition to warmer than average temperatures, it has also been a dry month with only 1.48” as of January 30.  This is appreciably below D.C.’s monthly average of 2.86”.  January 2023 will finish as D.C.’s second driest January in the last decade.  It is the fifth drier than average month over the last six months. 

Dulles Airport in nearby Sterling, Virginia has also been warm.  January 2023 will finish as the warmest on record with an average monthly temperature of 42.4°.  Dulles Airport has also had below average rainfall with only 1.29” of rain as of January 30.

Although February will get off to a cooler than average start, NOAA expects February 2023 to be a warmer than average month in the Nation’s Capital.  However, the right ingredients need to come together only once to produce accumulating snowfall. The last time there was accumulating snowfall in Washington, D.C. was on March 12, 2022 (0.9”).

Warmest January’s in the Nation’s Capital (Source: NOAA)

1.  48° (1950)
2.  46.8° (1932)
3.  43.8° (1937, 1890)
5.  43.6° (1990, 1913)
7.  43.1° (2006)
8.  43.0° (1998)
9.  42.9° (1974)
10.  42.6° (1949, 1933)

Warmest January’s at Dulles Airport (Source: NOAA)

1.  41.8° (2006)
2.  40.8° (1990)
3.  40.1° (1998)
4.  39.4° (2017)
5.  39.1° (2007, 2002)
7.  38.9° (2020)
8.  37.8° (2012, 1974)
10.  37.4° (2013)