Unusual January Warmth in the Nation’s Capital

 

Yesterday was D.C.’s sixth January day that high temperatures reached the 60s.  That’s more than double the average of between three and four such days over the last 30 years.  It is also the highest such total for the Nation’s Capital since there were eight days in the 60s in 2018.  

On top of the six unusually warm days, there has been only one cooler than average day so far this year in the Nation’s Capital.  That’s helped put January 2023 on track to finish among the Top 5 warmest January’s on record.  NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center expects near to above average temperatures to continue for much of next week.  This month should feel particularly warm when compared to last January, which finished 2.9° colder than average in Washington, D.C.

D.C.’s warm January fits a larger pattern that dates back to 2010.  Over the last 12 years, the Nation’s Capital has seen seven months that set records for warmest: February (2017), March (2012), April (2017), May (2015), June (2010), July (2011), and December (2015).

The summers of 2010 and 2011 were memorable in the Nation's Capital due to triple-digit heat and record heat. While June 2010 was D.C.'s hottest, July 2010 finished tied for third warmest.  July 2011 was D.C.'s hottest on record and finished with three days of at least 100° heat.  That’s in addition to low temperatures that remained a very oppressive 80°/+ on seven days.

There have also been very warm spring months in the Nation's Capital in recent years.  March 2012 is a good example, with highs in the 80s on four days.  By comparison, it had only two days with temperatures at or below 32°.  April 2017 was also exceptionally warm with nine days of summer-like high temperatures in the 80s.  May 2015 was also D.C.'s warmest.

December 2015 was a remarkable month in the Nation's Capital because it had three days with high temperatures in the 70s.  That's compared to only two days of low temperatures that were 32° or colder.  The month also featured 11 days with highs in the 60s that contributed to the average monthly temperature of 56.0°.  That's 9.5° warmer than average and more characteristic of April than December.  February 2017 also became D.C.'s warmest on record.

With January 2023 all but certain to finish among D.C.’s warmest on record, winter weather enthusiasts haven’t had much to cheer for.  Not only has there been no accumulating snowfall so far this winter, none is in the forecast in the short-term due to an unfavorable weather pattern.

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)
12.  42.4° (2020)