Warm and Dry in the Nation’s Capital

 

Moderate Drought Conditions  (Photo Credit: WUSA9)

The first three weeks of April have been exceptionally warm and dry in the D.C. Metro Area.  Record warmth has already occurred this month for parts of the Mid-Atlantic Region and more record highs could be set today. 

High temperatures will reach the mid to upper 80s across most of the D.C. Metro Area today.  If it reaches 90° today, then it would not only set a new April 21 record high, but would also be D.C.’s first 90° or higher April temperature since 2017.  The Nation’s Capital has also averaged between 3 and 4 April days in the 80s over the last 30 years, according to NOAA.  At the very least, today will be the eighth such day for the second highest total since 1993 (April 2017 had 9). 

D.C.’s average monthly temperature, combining daily high/low temperatures, through April 20 is 63.3°.  However, NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center expects much cooler, more seasonal temperatures to return for the final week of April.  That will allow for the average monthly temperature to fall, but it should remain high enough so April 2023 could rank among D.C.’s Top 10 warmest.

The first three weeks of April have also been quite dry with only 0.83” of rain at National Airport as of April 20.  That’s only about 25% of the average rainfall total (3.21”) for the entire month.  April’s been even drier at Dulles Airport (0.36”).  The dry start to April has continued the dry trend in the nation’s capital, where 7 of the previous 8 months have been drier than average, dating back to last August. 

That’s helped lead to moderate drought conditions for most of the area.  These are the first drought conditions for the nation’s capital since late-2019.  Not since 2009 have drought conditions emerged so early in the year, according to the Drought Monitor Index. 

Fortunately, my colleagues and I on the WUSA9 Weather Team expect beneficial rain tomorrow afternoon with showers and thunderstorms as a cold front pushes through the D.C. Metro Area bringing an end to the June-like warmth.

Warmest April’s in Washington, D.C. (Source: NOAA)

1. 63.8° (2017)
2. 62.4° (2019)
3. 62.1° (1981)
4. 62.0° (1994)
5. 61.6° (1985)
6. 61.2° (1960)
7. 60.9° (2010)
8. 60.6° (1941)
9. 60.1° (1980, 1977)

Average: 58.2° (1991- 2020)

Driest April’s in Washington, D.C.

1. 0.03” (1985)
2. 0.54” (1942)
3. 0.79” (1926)
4. 0.80” (1967)
5. 0.90” (1915)
6. 0.91” (1871)
7. 0.99” (1963)
8. 1.05” (1922)
9. 1.07” (1896)
10. 1.17” (1976)

Average: 3.21”

Warmest April’s at Dulles Airport in Sterling, Virginia

1. 61.0° (2017)
2. 60.1° (1994)
3. 59.0° (2019)
4. 57.4° (2006)
5. 57.3° (2011, 1960)

Average: 55.0°

Driest April’s at Dulles Airport

1. 0.33” (1985)
2. 0.93” (1967)
3. 1.17” (1963)
4. 1.29” (2010, 1968)
6. 1.31” (1976)
7. 1.34” (1969)
8. 1.62” (1978)
9. 1.71” (1994)
10. 1.80” (1991)