WASHINGTON — After a mild winter, temperatures in the area have remained unseasonably warm recently and should continue to rise through the work week. As a result, lots of people who live in older buildings are counting the days until they switch back to air conditioning.
How unusual is this weather – and can we expect above average temperatures for the rest of the year?
SOURCES
THE QUESTION
First, is this the warmest year on record so far in Washington D.C.?
WHAT WE FOUND
Data from the Southeast Regional Climate Center show that, year to date, 2023 is the warmest year in DC’s history, with daily average temperature records that go back to the 1800s.
That is part of a long-term trend. Chris Strong, Warning Coordination Meteorologist with the National Weather Service, pointed out that the top four warmest years—considering the period of January 1 through April 17—all occurred in the last 11 years.
So, yes, to this point, 2023 is the warmest year D.C. has seen on record.
THE QUESTION
Will it stay that way?
WHAT WE FOUND
Jon Gottschalck, Chief of the Operational Prediction Branch of the National Weather Service’s Climate Prediction Center, said our warm weather does not necessarily indicate a larger pattern.
WUSA9 Meteorologist Makayla Lucero added that we have been stuck under high pressure recently, which has led to above-normal temperatures and low precipitation. That will likely change this weekend, as a low-pressure system sweeps through our area.
So, while it is true that Washington D.C.'s weather is on a record-setting pace, experts say it does not mean we are in for a full year of blazing heat.