WASHINGTON — While fall officially ends in late December, the last day of "meteorological fall," comprised of September, October and November ends this week -- and its been a hot one. In fact, November 2024 will finish as the warmest on record in the nation’s capital with a monthly average temperature roughly five degrees above average. Only three days have been cooler than average in the nation’s capital since Nov. 1, against three record-high temperatures.
Three November days were in the 80s, in D.C., for the first time since 1975. Despite some rain on Thanksgiving Day, November will also finish as a drier than average month for a fourth consecutive year. Consequently, moderate to severe drought conditions continue to envelope much of the D.C. Metro Area.
When 0.2 of an inch of rain fell on Nov. 10, it was the first measurable rainfall in the nation’s capital since October 2. This 38-day streak without measurable rainfall broke the 2007 record of 34 days without measurable rain in the nation’s capital.
October’s unusual warmth culminated with the warmest Halloween in the nation’s capital in decades. While not record-setting, D.C.’s high of 83 degrees on Oct. 31 made for the warmest Halloween in the nation’s capital since 1950. Eight of the last nine October’s have been warmer than average in Washington, D.C. October was also drier than average for a fourth consecutive year.
September finished as a drier and slightly warmer than average month in the nation’s capital. However, this year was also the first time no 90-degree September heat occurred since 2011.
The combination of D.C.’s warmest November and a warmer than average September and October, makes the 2024 fall season rank among the warmest on record. Meteorological winter officially gets underway Dec. 1 and continues through the end of February.
Warmest autumn’s in Washington, D.C. (Source: NOAA)
63.9° - 2016
63.3° - 2007
63.1° - 1973, 1931
62.9° - 1881
62.5° - 2021, 2015, 2010, 1985, 1941
62.4° - 2017
62.3° - 1970
62.2° - 2019
62.0° - 2023, 1971
61.9° - 2005, 1998, 1980