DC’s roller coaster October weather

 

NOAA's Temperature Outlook for late-October

The first half of October has featured no shortage of memorable weather in the nation’s capital. From rainy and unseasonally cool weather, to temperatures more characteristic of August than October.

DC’s signature weather event during the first half of October was the record-setting warmth that occurred on October 14. Washington, D.C. not only set a new record high for the date, but DC’s high of 90° also set a new record for latest in the calendar year it had been 90°. The previous record for latest 90-degree day was more than 100 years old when it was 90° on October 11, 1919.

All three DC-Area airports set new October 14 record highs, according to the National Weather Service.

National Airport (DCA): 90°
Dulles Airport, Sterling, Virginia (IAD): 89°
BWI Airport, Baltimore, Maryland: 88°

October 90-degree heat is exceptionally rare in the nation’s capital. That’s primarily due to the decreasing amount of daylight and decreasing sun angle. According to NOAA data over the last 30 years (1996-2025), the nation’s capital has averaged one 90-degree October day roughly every four years. Nevertheless, no 90-degree heat had been observed in Washington, D.C. before yesterday since 2019.

The first half of October has also seen near average month-to-date rainfall with 1.72” at National Airport. The wettest days so far this month were October 11-12 when the remnants of Hurricane Isaias passed through the DMV (DC, Maryland and Virginia). A two-day rainfall total of 1.06”  occurred at National Airport, 2.87” at Dulles Airport and 1.88” at BWI Airport.

Although this weekend will feature much colder weather with November-like highs in the 50s, NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center expects warmer than average temperatures to return to the DMV over the final 10 days of October.

A wrap on Hurricane Isaias

 

Hurricane Isaias, October 2026 (Source: NOAA)

Hurricane Isaias has been in the headlines for the last several days. Not only was it the first Atlantic hurricane of the season, but was also the first hurricane to make landfall in the United States in two years. The inland impacts of Isaias were far-reaching.

The 2026 Atlantic hurricane season has been notable for how quiet it’s been. Isaias set a new record for latest first hurricane when it was upgraded to hurricane status on October 8. Isaias was also the first Atlantic hurricane since Melissa last October. It was also the first hurricane in the Gulf since Rafael in November 2024.

Isaias intensified into a major hurricane Category 3 hurricane on October 9 with peak winds of 120 mph and a minimum central air pressure of 958 millibars (mb). That not only made Isaias the first hurricane of 2026, but the first major hurricane (Category 3 or greater) as well. Although Isaias made landfall in the Florida panhandle as a Category 2 storm, it caused considerable damage both at the coast and in areas well inland. Several fatalities were also reported.

The remnants of Isaias quickly became non-tropical or “post-tropical” as they tracked north and east bringing heavy rain, gusty winds and severe weather to much of the eastern United States. DC, Maryland and Virginia (DMV) experienced heavy rain and gusty winds on October 11 as the remnants of Isaias moved through. The rainfall was beneficial, however, as the nation’s capital has an ongoing year-to-date rainfall deficit of more than five inches.

It’s not without some irony either than the remnants of Isaias impacted the DMV. That’s because this is the second time Isaias has been a named storm. The first time was six years ago when Isaias made landfall in North Carolina as a Category 1 storm. Its remnants also brought heavy rain and severe weather to the DMV.

It will take some time for the final death toll and monetary cost in damages to be determined for the 2026 version of Isaias. Once that’s been completed, the World Meteorological Organization (WHO) will have to determine whether or not the name Isaias should be retired. If “Isaias” is retired, then a new I-named storm would take its place when the 2026 list of hurricane names is reused in 2032.

Weather Quiz

 

Hurricane Milton, October 2024 (Source: NOAA)

What was the strongest Atlantic hurricane on record during the month of October ?

  
A. Wilma (2005)


B. Sandy (2012)

C. Milton (2024)

D. Melissa (2025)