Record February Warmth !

This week has featured dozens of record-setting daily high temperatures across the eastern United States from Florida to Maine.  In addition, monthly record high temperatures were set in cities such as Tampa, New York City among a number of other cities.  Earlier this week, the DC Metro Area had temperatures more characteristic of early June than late February. 

High temperatures at National Airport reached 78° and 82°, respectively, on February 20-21.  It was also the first case of consecutive February days with temperatures of at least 78° in the Nation’s Capital.  The high temperature of 82° on February 21 also became the earliest 80° temperature on record in Washington, D.C., surpassing the old record of February 25, 1930 (84°).  It was also DC’s warmest February day since February 28, 1948 (82°).  It’s incredible to consider this warmth when 82° isn’t even DC’s average high until June 6.

Dulles Airport also set a record high of 80° on February 21, which was also a new monthly record high temperature.  It broke the previous record of March 8 for earliest 80° temperature by more than two weeks.  As warm as February 2018 has been, last February remains the warmest on record in the Nation’s Capital.  Washingtonians had a total of five days with temperatures in the 60s and six days in the 70s last February, compared to six days with temperatures of at least 60° so far this month.

The Nation’s Capital has averaged one February day with highs in the 70s and nearly three days of at least 60° since 1993.  That helps illustrate how unusual the warmth of last February and this February has been in the DC Metro Area.  This month’s average temperature (combining daily high and low temperatures) through February 22 is 44.3°.  NOAA expects warmer than average weather over the final week of the month, so February 2018 is well-positioned to rank as one of DC’s warmest.

February 2018 has also been wetter than average and that’s welcome news for Mid-Atlantic residents.  Following the fourth driest January on record, moderate to severe drought conditions had enveloped much of the DC Metro Area at the start of February.  However, with the wettest February in the Nation’s Capital since 2003, there has been significant improvement in the drought conditions.  However, much to the chagrin of DC Area snow enthusiasts, only 0.2” of snow has occurred this month.  That makes February 2018 the third consecutive February with below average snowfall.

Top Ten Warmest February’s in Washington, D.C.  (Source: NOAA)

1.  47.7° (2017)

2.  46.9° (1976)

3.  45.2° (1990)

4.  44.7° (1997)

5.  44.4° (2012)

6.  43.8° (1984, 1949)

8.  43.7° (1981)
9.  43.5° (1954)

10.  43.4° (1998, 1890)

Another Warm February

NOAA's Temperature outlook for late February and early March

February 2018 could finish among the 10 warmest on record in the Nation’s Capital.  That’s despite a cooler than average start with high temperatures at or below average on eight of the first 10 days of the month.  Since then, temperatures have been warmer than average on eight of the last 10.  Consequently, DC’s average monthly temperature (combining daily high and low temperatures) is 41.5°.

Record high temperatures were set yesterday at National and Dulles Airports (78° and 77° respectively), while BWI Airport tied its record high of 76°.  Yesterday’s high of 78° was DC’s warmest February day since February 24, 1985 (also 78°).  More record-breaking warmth is on tap for the DC Metro Area today with temperatures in the upper 70s to around 80° once again.

The existing record for earliest 80° day of the year in the Nation’s Capital is February 25, 1930 (84°).  Temperatures aren’t expected to be that warm but could reach 80° today.  That isn’t the average high in the Nation’s Capital until May 31!  Not everyone will be that warm, though, as areas on or near a body of water – such as the Chesapeake Bay – will remain a few degrees cooler (due to the cold water temperatures).  

Area residents may recall that last February was DC’s warmest on record with an average temperature of 47.7° (nearly 9° warmer than average) and six days in the 70s.  Equally impressive is the fact that since 1970, there has been only one record low February temperature at National Airport (2015).

By comparison, over the 20-year period through 2017, there were seven record high February temperatures in Washington, D.C., in addition to eight record high-low temperatures.  A record high-low temperature essentially means the daily low temperature was unusually warm.  For example, the record high-low temperature on this date in the Nation’s Capital is 51°, which occurred in 1974.  For perspective, DC’s average high temperature on February 21 is 49°.

This trend of warmer overnight temperatures and a significantly greater number of record highs than record lows can largely be attributed to an increase in urbanization over recent decades.  The increased development in and around cities enhances the urban heat island effect. 

February 21 Record High / Record High Low Temperatures (Degrees Fahrenheit)

DCA: 75° (1953) / 51° (1954)
IAD: 70° (1997) / 45° (1981)
BWI: 74° (1930) / 49° (1981)