Dry in the nation’s capital

 

A November day in Potomac, Maryland

Although scattered showers are in the forecast today and tomorrow for the nation’s capital, they will follow a multi-week stretch of dry weather. Before today, no measurable rainfall had occurred in Washington, D.C. for 18 consecutive days. That was the second longest dry stretch of the year in the nation’s capital.

This nearly three-week stretch of dry weather has led to the return of “abnormally dry” conditions across much of the DMV (DC, Maryland and Virginia). That refers to drier than average conditions that haven’t yet reached drought-level conditions.

Being as dry as it’s been recently is unfortunate since widespread drought conditions that were in place over the spring and summer had only recently been alleviated by a wetter than average August and September. Any rainfall today or tomorrow would certainly be beneficial as November is typically one of the drier months of the year.

NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center expects near average rainfall for the DMV this month. That isn’t a good recipe for making up DC’s roughly eight-inch rainfall deficit since January 1. In fact, eight of the last 10 November’s have been drier than average in the nation’s capital. Average November rainfall here is only 2.91”, according to NOAA.

This year is well-positioned to become DC’s fourth consecutive drier than average year (41.82”). That would be the longest such streak in the nation’s capital since five consecutive drier than average years occurred from 1984 – 1988.

DC’s longest stretch w/o measurable rainfall (DCA)

38 days: October 3 – November 9, 2024

37 days: September 15 – October 18, 2007

33 days: August 7 – September 8, 1995