DC’s unusual start to 2025

 

A frigid January day

The first month of 2025 will finish colder and snowier than average in the nation’s capital. That’s an unusual combination as longtime Washingtonians can attest to after several very warm January’s in recent years. Not only will this month finish with above average snowfall, but also with below average rainfall (including liquid equivalent of the snowfall).

While four of the last five January’s have been warmer than average, only 10 of the last 20 (prior to 2025) have been. That illustrates how it’s only a recent trend for January’s to be uncharacteristically warm in the nation’s capital. The final few days of January have featured above average temperatures and that will skew DC’s monthly average temperature.

DC residents experienced 19 colder than average days through January 25, causing the month to be 5.6° colder than average at National Airport (DC’s official weather reporting station). Meanwhile at Dulles Airport, the month had been even colder at 6.3° below average through January 25. The nation’s capital saw its first stretch of four consecutive days (January 20 – January 23) that temperatures remained below freezing since January 2018. That will help January 2025 finish as DC’s coldest since 2014.

Accumulating snowfall occurred on four separate days and produced a January total of 8.3”. The heaviest snow occurred on January 6 with 7.2”. That was DC’s largest daily snowfall total since 8.3” on January 13, 2019. Since last January also saw above average snowfall, the nation’s capital has now seen above average snowfall in consecutive January’s for the first time since 2010-2011.

The irony is despite the month finishing with above average snowfall, January will still finish as a drier than average month. There has been a total of only 1.18” of rain (including liquid snowfall equivalent) as of January 30. The nation’s capital averages 2.86”. While today will be a rainy day, it isn’t likely to be wet enough to make January wetter than average.

Coldest January’s at National Airport (Source: NOAA)

1. 25.4° - 1977
2. 28.1° - 1982
3. 28.8° - 1994, 1948
4. 29.8° - 1961
5. 30.0° - 1970
6. 30.6° - 2004
7. 30.8° - 1985, 1945
8. 31.0° - 1988
9. 31.1° - 2003
10. 31.4° - 1968

Average: 37.5°

Notable cold spells in the nation’s capital

 

January can be frigid

2025: Although temperatures during the final days of January will be only a few degrees above average, it will feel comparatively warmer given how cold most of the month has been. DC’s coldest stretch of weather occurred from January 20 – 23. High temperatures remained below freezing on four consecutive days for the longest such stretch since January 4 – 7, 2018. DC’s average high/low during these four days were 27.3°/15.8°. 

DC’s low temperature of 15° on January 22 and 23 was the coldest it has been in the nation’s capital since December 24, 2022 (9°).  Although no record cold occurred, this January has felt particularly cold considering four of the last five have been warmer than average.

2017-2018: A frigid air mass dominated local weather headlines during a 12-day stretch from December 27, 2017 - January 7, 2018. Temperatures in the nation’s capital included nine days when highs remained at or below freezing during this period. DC’s average daily high/low during this stretch was 27.1°/15.3°. The coldest day was January 7 with a high/low of only 23°/8°.

It was even colder at Dulles Airport in Sterling, Virginia, where highs remained at or below freezing during the entire 12-day period. Dulles Airport also set a combined total of six record low / record low high temperatures, according to the National Weather Service. 

2015: This February finished as DC’s coldest since 1979 and was the last time the nation’s capital experienced a record low temperature. The low of 5° at National Airport on February 20 was DC’s coldest temperature since February 5, 1996 (also 5°).

The coldest stretch in 2015 occurred from February 13 – 21. High temperatures remained below freezing on six of these nine days and daily low temperatures were all 18° or colder. Average daily high/low temperatures in the nation’s capital during this period were 28.9°/12.7°.

2005: Although January finished only 1.5° colder than average, that obscures how cold the second half of the month was. The first two weeks of this January were warmer than average with the first colder than average day not occurring until January 15.

During a 13-day stretch from January 17 – 29, highs remained below freezing on nine days.  DC’s average high/low temperature during this frigid stretch was 30.5°/18.3°.

2004: January finished 7° colder than average in the nation’s capital.  The coldest weather was a 13-day stretch from January 19 – 31. High temperatures remained below freezing on 11 of these days, including six consecutively from January 23 – 28. DC’s average daily high/low during this frigid 13-day period was 30.7°/19.2°.

Surprising January Thaws

 

January 2018 (Photo Credit: Robin Beal)

The nation’s capital has experienced its coldest stretch of weather in more than seven years.  Highs will only reach the low to mid-30s today following three consecutive days with highs in the 20s for the longest such stretch since January 4 – 8, 2018.  There have been several other  stretches of unusually cold weather in recent decades, followed by dramatic January thaws.

2024: Highs remained at or below freezing four times during a six-day stretch from January 15 – 20, with an average daily high/low temperature during this period of 32.3°/22.2°.  Less than four days later, a dramatic January thaw got underway in the nation’s capital.  From January 24 – 27, high temperatures reached at least 61° and also included DC’s warmest January temperature on record of 80° on January 26. 

2018: The year got off to an exceptionally cold start with highs below freezing on six days between January 1 – 7.  Average daily high/lows for the nation’s capital were 25.6°/13.1°.  A hard pivot to milder ensued and between January 9 – 13, with high temperatures reaching the 60s on three occasions.

2013: The final week of January was a changeable one in the nation’s capital.  Highs remained at or below freezing on four consecutive days from January 22 – January 25 and produced an average daily high/low temperature of 28.5°/18.25°. Highs then reached at least 66° on three consecutive days from January 29 – 31.

1996: This January also got off to a cold start, similar to 2018, except with record-setting snowfall.  Temperatures remained at or below freezing on six days during a 7-day period from January 6 – 12.  Average daily high/low temperatures for this period were 28.1°/17.6°. Less than a week later, temperatures were a lot milder, reaching at least 50° on three consecutive days starting January 17.

1994: One of the coldest 7-day periods in recent memory occurred in the nation’s capital from January 15 – 21. Highs remained below freezing on six of these seven days and included three days with highs in the teens. With the exception of January 17, all the other days during this period featured lows at 8° or colder, including -4° on January 19.  However, starting on January 22, highs reached at least 41° on four consecutive days. That includes the relatively balmy high of 61° on January 24 that was also DC’s warmest temperature of the entire month.