A closer look at historic cold in the nation's capital

 

Frigid January weather

As the nation’s capital prepares for its coldest stretch of weather in a number of years, it’s worth reflecting on some other memorable arctic outbreaks. Some have also coincided with Inauguration Day.

It’s important to emphasize how unusual highs in the 20s are in the nation’s capital since average daily high temperatures are in the mid 40s throughout January. Although some days with highs in the 20s occur on occasion, they are rare, with two or more consecutive days that are rarer still.

The last time the nation’s capital had a high of less than 30° was on January 20, 2024 (29°). The last time highs in the 20s occurred on consecutive days was on January 31 – February 1, 2019. Meanwhile, the last time three or more consecutive days with highs in the 20s occurred in the nation’s capital was on January 4 – January 7, 2018.

With highs poised to remain in the low 20s on both Tuesday and Wednesday, it’s worth noting the last time DC had a high temperature of less than 25° was on December 24, 2022 (22°). This was also the last time the nation’s capital had a low temperature in the single digits (9°). Nearly 11 years have passed since the last time the nation’s capital had a high of less than 20° when it was only 19° on January 22, 2014.

Although such frigid temperatures are most common in January, they can also occur in other months. Such was the case in February 2015 that finished nearly 10° colder than average in Washington, D.C., and included seven days of high temperatures that remained below freezing.

Tomorrow’s Inauguration Day will rank among the coldest with temperatures only in the low 20s for the noon ceremony. While President Reagan’s second inauguration was the coldest on record with a noon temperature of only 7°, there have been other relatively recent inaugurations that were also quite cold. For example, the noon temperature was only 28° during President Obama’s first inauguration on January 20, 2009. That remains tied with President Carter’s inauguration on January 20, 1977, as the third coldest in January. The 20^th Amendment requires Presidential inaugurations to occur in January as they have since 1937.

Similar to President Reagan’s second inauguration, tomorrow’s ceremony was also moved indoors. However, regardless of where tomorrow’s inauguration ranks among the coldest, this week’s frigid weather will be DC’s coldest weather in at least seven years and possibly longer.