Record February Warmth

 

Yesterday finished as one of the warmest February days on record in the D.C. Metro Area.  It was only the fourth February day that Washington, D.C. was in the 80s since weather records began in 1871.  It was also the second earliest in the calendar year that the Nation’s Capital experienced 80° warmth.  Thursday’s high of 81° isn’t D.C.’s “average” high temperature until June 1, according to NOAA.

These are the record high temperatures that were set on Thursday, February 23:

Washington, D.C. (Reagan National Airport): 81° (old record: 77° - 1874)
Dulles Airport: 80° (old record: 77° - 2017)
Baltimore, MD (BWI Airport): 79° (old record: 78° - 1874)

Yesterday’s high of 81° was also the third highest February temperature on record.  Here is the full list.

84° - February 25, 1930
82° - February 21, 2018;
         February 28, 1948
79° - February 17, 1976
78° - February 20, 2018;
         February 23, 1874;
         February 24, 1985

Through today, D.C.’s average monthly temperature (combining daily high and low temperatures) is 46.8° (7.2° above average), while at Dulles Airport it’s 44.5° (+8.7°).  Those averages will come down a little before the end of the month with considerably cooler temperatures expected over the next few days.  However, February 2023 will still finish as one of the warmest on record in the Nation’s Capital.

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

1.  47.7° (2017)
2.  46.9° (1976)
3.  45.3° (2018)
4.  45.2° (1990)
5.  44.7° (1997)
6.  44.4° (2012)
7.  43.8° (2020, 1984, 1949)
10.  43.7° (1981)

 

Warmest February’s at Dulles Airport (Source: National Weather Service)

1.  44.8° (2017)
2.  42.4° (2018)
3.  42.2° (1990)
4.  41.4° (2020)
5.  41.1° (1976)