Meteorological winter gets underway

 

The sun has set on meteorological fall in the nation's capital

November 2024 finished 5.3° warmer than average in the nation’s capital and that made it the warmest on record. It was also a drier than average month which wasn’t good news for the ongoing drought conditions. Although no measurable snowfall occurred, some light snow and flurries was observed on November 22. That was the first time snow fell in the nation’s capital prior to Thanksgiving since 2018.

Meteorological winter officially began on December 1 and continues through the end of February. Average daily temperatures drop throughout December, according to NOAA. D.C.’s average high/low temperatures range from 53°/38° on December 1 to 44°/30° on December 31. D.C.’s warmest December temperature on record is 79° (December 7, 1998), while its coldest December temperature is -13° (December 31, 1880). Seven of the last 10 Decembers have been warmer than average in Washington, D.C.

The nation’s capital averages 3.41” of rain in December. Washingtonians can also expect an average of 1.7” of December snowfall (2.8” at Dulles Airport). However, nine of the last 10 Decembers have had below average snowfall, with 2017 being the lone exception. D.C.’s wettest December (7.56”) occurred in 1901 and driest (0.19”) in 1889. By comparison, the snowiest December occurred in 2009 with 16.6”. That was also the last time the nation’s capital had a white Christmas.

December’s weather can have wide fluctuations from one year to the next. The right ingredients need to come together only once to produce a large winter storm such as what happened in December 2009. 

NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center expects a weak episode of La Nina to develop this winter. That would help create conditions making near to below average snowfall more likely in the nation’s capital. Last winter produced just 8” of snow in D.C., well below the seasonal average of 13.7”. Washingtonians haven’t had a snowier than average winter since 2018-2019.

Nevertheless, D.C.’s cold start to December will continue for the entire week with temperatures more typical of January. Dry conditions will also continue for the next several days.