DC's changeable April weather

 

Signs of spring abound around the DMV

Although it isn’t typically as cold in the nation’s capital in April as it is in March, it can still get chilly. Moreover, while April doesn’t often see weather as hot as in May, it can also be quite hot.

2021: Washingtonians experienced very streaky weather during April with above average temperatures on eight of the first 11 days of the month. However, there were only five warmer than average days the rest of the month. This led to DC's temperature for the month to finish at 58.2°, which is spot on average. Finishing with merely "average" temperatures for the month hides how streaky this month's weather was. DC's low temperature of 31° was the first at or below average April temperature since 2016.

2020: DC’s high temperature on April 13 was 81°, which was still significantly warmer than DC's average high temperature for the date of 66°. That was soon followed by four consecutive days with highs in the 50s through April 18, which is more characteristic of early March.

2017:  This was DC’s warmest April on record with an average temperature seven degrees above the average. Monthly average temperatures are comprised of daily high and low temperatures. All but seven days this April were warmer than average. April 29 was also the last time Washingtonians experienced 90° heat during April, with a record-tying high temperature of 91°. Four of DC’s 10 warmest April’s have occurred just since 2010. 

2007:  DC had three consecutive days of low temperatures at or below 32° from April 7 – April 9. The month finished 3.2° cooler than average, with an average temperature of 53.6°. This was also the last time Washingtonians experienced a record low temperature during the month of April, as the low fell to 29° on April 8.

2002:  April finished as DC’s 12^th warmest on record and featured a rare stretch of three consecutive 90-degree days from April 16 – 18. There was a record high of 95° on April 17 that also tied DC’s record high for the entire month of April.

Warmest April’s in Washington, DC (Source: NOAA)

1. 63.8° (2017)
2. 62.4° (2019)
3. 62.1° (2023, 1981)
5. 62.0° (1994)
6. 61.6° (1985)
7. 61.2° (1960)
8. 60.9° (2010)
9. 60.6° (1941)
10. 60.1° (1980, 1977)
12. 60.0° (2002)