Dangerous cold in the nation's capital

 

A frigid January day in suburban Washington, D.C.

Not only could DC’s largest winter storm in a decade occur this weekend, but it will coincide with one of DC’s coldest weeks in recent memory. The timing of this weekend’s winter storm will occur almost 10 years to the day since the record-setting “Blizzard of 2016.”

Residents can expect long-lasting cold for much of next week when temperatures remain at or below freezing in the DMV (DC, Maryland and Virginia). The coldest stretch of last winter was a four-day stretch from January 20 – January 23 when temperatures remained below freezing in the nation’s capital. However, the nation’s capital hasn’t had five or more consecutive January days when temperatures remained at or below freezing since a six-day stretch in 2004.

Temperatures Saturday afternoon won’t get above freezing in the nation’s capital. That could potentially be the first of up to five consecutive days. While not record-setting, that would be unusual. For example, no low temperatures below 22° occurred at National Airport for nearly three years from February 2, 2019 (18°) to January 15, 2022 (20°). High temperatures may not reach 22° on Saturday afternoon and Sunday. All official weather measurements for the nation’s capital are made at National Airport (DCA).

NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center expects below average temperatures to continue into early February. According to the National Weather Service, some other key cold weather benchmarks to remember are: 

Last time Washington, D.C. had a daily high temperature in the teens:

January 22, 2014: 19°

Last time single-digit temperatures occurred (DCA):

December 24, 2022 (9°)

January temperatures in the single digits since 2000 (DCA):

January 7, 2018 (8°)
January 22, 2014 (9°)
January 7, 2014 (6°)
January 17, 2009 (8°)
January 10, 2004 (8°)

Washington, D.C. hasn’t experienced temperatures below 0° since January 19, 1994 (-4°). That was also the last time a daily high temperature remained in the single digits (8°). 

January stretches of consecutive days with temperatures =/<32° at DCA since 2000 (Source: NOAA)

Five days/+:

January 23 – 28, 2004: (Average daily high/low temperatures: 26.7°/18.2°)

Four days:

January 20 – 23, 2025 (27.3°/15.8°)
January 4 – 7, 2018 (23°/13.3°)
January 22 – 25, 2013 (28.5°/18.3°)
January 21 – 24, 2005 (26.3°/14.8°)