A tale of two seasons in D.C.

 

Blossoms along the Tidal Basin

March picked up where last month ended with lots of above-average temperatures. In fact, 16 of the first 17 days of March 2024 were warmer than average in the nation’s capital. However, there was a significant shift in the weather pattern last week that has it feeling more like late-February.

Not only did this month get off to a warm start, but it also got off to a rainy start with measurable rainfall on eight of the first 10 days. Another 1.61” of rain occurred in the nation’s capital on March 23. Although not record-setting, that was DC’s rainiest March day in nearly three years since March 24, 2021 (1.69”). With 4.04” of rain so far this month, it’s tied with 2015 as DC’s second wettest March of the last decade. 

Having a wetter than average March is important as spring gets underway. Last March was one of several drier than average months to start 2023. That led to drought conditions across much of the DC Metro Area for long stretches of last spring and summer. That hasn’t been an issue so far this year with an annual rainfall surplus of more than three inches. 

DC’s world famous cherry blossoms along the Tidal Basin reached their second earliest peak bloom on record on March 17, according to the National Park Service. However, six of the seven days since then have been cooler than average. In fact, the daily low fell to 32° on March 21 for the first time in nearly a month.

Since the first half of March was so much warmer than average, March 2024 could still rank among DC's Top 10 warmest despite the cooler than average weather over the last week. Weather records in the nation's capital date back to the 1870s.

The warmer than average temperatures for long stretches of 2024 have helped the allergy season start earlier than it otherwise would have. Meanwhile, the cool temperatures over the last week have helped the cherry blossoms last longer in peak bloom. Once the cherry blossoms reach peak bloom, then gusty winds, heavy rain and extreme heat are their biggest risks.

DC’s Warmest March’s (Source: NOAA)

1. 56.8° (2012)
2. 56.2° (1945)
3. 55.5° (1921)
4. 53.5° (2016)
5. 53.2° (2020)
6. 53.0° (1946)
7. 52.7° (1977)
8. 51.7° (2000)
9. 51.5° (1979)
10. 51.3° (1976)