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| Colder than average weather to continue into February for much of the Eastern U.S. (NOAA) |
The major winter storm that brought significant snow and sleet to the nation’s capital on January 25 coincided with the start of an exceptionally cold week. Temperatures haven’t been above freezing since January 23 and are poised to remain below freezing through the upcoming weekend.
Temperatures aren’t expected to climb above freezing until February 2 or February 3. That would make a minimum of 11 consecutive days temperatures remain 32° or colder in the nation’s capital. Such a streak would be the longest such stretch since National Airport (DCA) opened in 1941 and weather measurements for the nation’s capital began being taken there ever since.
Prior to 1941, measurements were made in downtown D.C. and official NOAA weather records in the nation’s capital date all the way back to 1871. Below are some critical cold weather benchmarks for the nation’s capital.
Longest stretches of days at or below freezing, Washington, D.C. (NOAA - DCA)
12: January 23 – February
3, 1936 (Average daily high/low temperatures: 24.1°/11.6° )
12: February 3 – February 14, 1895 (21.3°/8.8°)
11: December 21 –
December 31, 1935 (27°/15.3°)
11: January 10 – January 20, 1893 (21.4°/7°)
10: December 16 – 25,
1989 (25.5°/12.4°)
Honorable Mentions
7: February 9 – February
15, 1979 (24.3°/11.3°)
December 28, 2017 – January 7, 2018 (12 days, 24.3°/13.3°): Although
temperatures were above freezing twice during this streak (December 30: 33°,
January 3: 35°), this streak remains impressive for its duration.
Last daily high temperature in the teens: January 22, 2014 (19°)
Last high temperature in the single digits: January 19, 1994 (8°)
Last low temperature in the single digits: December 24, 2022 (9°)
Last January low temperature in the single digits: January 7, 2018 (8°)
Last consecutive days with lows in the single digits:
February 4 – 5, 1996 (9°, 5°)
Last time below 0°: January 19, 1994 (-4°)
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