Who's ready for spring ?

 

NOAA's Temperature Outlook for March

February 2024 finished tied with 2012 as DC's seventh warmest on record. Along with December and January being appreciably warmer than average, that made the 2023-2024 winter season one of the warmest on record in the nation's capital. Last month was also the ninth consecutive one with below average snowfall and the 2023-2024 winter was DC's fifth consecutive with below average snowfall.

Meteorological spring got underway on March 1 and continues through the end of May. Average daily high/low temperatures rise dramatically this month from 52°/35° on March 1 to 62°/43° on March 31. There has been an even 50/50 split of warmer and colder than average March’s over the last 20 years in Washington, D.C. However, five of the last six have been warmer than average. DC’s warmest March temperature on record is 93° on March 23, 1907. By comparison, the coldest March temperature in the nation’s capital remains 4° on March 4, 1873.

Despite the warming March temperatures, accumulating snowfall can still occur. It merely becomes less common as the month wears on. As recently as 2018, Washington, D.C. saw 4.1” of snow as late as March 21. March has been DC’s snowiest month of the year five times since 2009. According to NOAA, March is the only month of the year DC’s snowfall average has increased in the last 10 years, having risen from 1.3” to 2.0”.

Only seven of the last 20 March’s had above average snowfall in the nation’s capital. Longtime Washingtonians may remember March 2014 was DC’s snowiest since 1960 with 12.7”. By comparison, March has also been a drier than average month 13 times over the last two decades, including in seven of the last eight. DC residents average 3.5” of March rainfall (including liquid equivalent of melted snowfall). Precipitation is important in March as it sets the stage for the start of the growing season.

This helps illustrate how streaky March weather can be in the nation’s capital. Unusual warmth, such as during much of this January and February, can be followed by unusually cold weather.  A good example of this occurred in 2018. February 2018 finished as DC's fourth warmest on record, but was followed by a very cold March. March 2018 had more than double the average amount of monthly snowfall, along with 25 of 31 days that were cooler than average. 

DC's weather is especially important this time of year as all eyes pivot to one of DC's signature springtime attractions: the cherry blossoms along the Tidal Basin. NOAA’s March outlook is for above average temperatures combined with near average precipitation in the DC Metro Area.