WASHINGTON — The second half of May has felt more like June and that will help this month finish much warmer than average. Meteorologists predict that will solidify this spring as one of DC’s warmest on record. The three-month period of March, April and May comprises "meteorological" spring.
Largely due to frequent clouds and rain, only 18 days in May were warmer than average. Despite this, May 2024 will rank among DC's Top 20 warmest. A record high of 91 degrees occurred at Dulles Airport on both May 2 and May 22, according to the National Weather Service.
April 2024 ranks as DC's tenth warmest on record. Record warmth occurred at Dulles Airport on April 29 and 30. Continuing a trend, five of DC's 10 warmest Aprils have happened just since 2010. Finally, March 2024 finished as DC's eighth warmest on record -- more than four degrees warmer than average.
While neither March, April nor May individually rank among DC's top five warmest, the combination of all three being much warmer than average helped this spring rank among DC's top five warmest. That's an impressive distinction since NOAA's weather records in the nation's capital date back to 1871. It was also the second warmest spring on record at Dulles Airport where NOAA weather records date back to the early 1960s.
With 20 days of rain this month, it's also been wetter than average with 4.30 inches. April was a dry month in the nation's capital with 2.06 inches, well below DC's April average. March 2024 was DC's rainiest since 1998, according to NOAA, with a total of 4.89 inches.
This spring will finish a little wetter than average in the nation's capital. Prior to 2024, only two of DC’s 10 warmest springs have also been wetter than average (2019, 1921).
DC's Warmest Springs (Source: NOAA)
62.2° - 2012
60.7° - 1977
60.6° - 2024
60.5° - 2010
60.1° - 2019
60.0° - 1991
59.5° - 1945
59.3° - 2015, 2004
59.1° - 1985
59.0° - 1921
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