WASHINGTON — Following another warmer than average February, this winter will finish among the warmest on record in the nation's capital. There were only four colder than average days during the entire month.
According to meteorologists, it will be D.C.'s seventh warmer than average winter and seventh winter with below average snowfall in the last eight years.
For the 9th consecutive year, February will finish with below average snowfall with only 0.1 inches. That's significant since February is typically D.C.'s snowiest month of the year, according to NOAA.
In contrast, January was a wet month in the nation's capital that saw its fourth wettest January day on record with 2.24" of rain on January 9. Although the month finished more than two degrees warmer than average, the middle of the month was very cold with four days that high temperatures remained at or below freezing. That made for D.C.'s coldest stretch of weather since January 2018.
Two snow events also occurred, with 4.1 inches falling on January 15-16 and another 3.7 inches falling on January 19. The monthly total of 7.8 inches was the District's snowiest month since January 2022.
Not to mention, D.C.'s high of 80 degrees on January 26 was not only a record high for the date, but was the first time the nation's capital had ever experienced 80-degree January warmth.
December 2023 tied for D.C.'s 5th wettest month on record and was also the 4th warmest. There were three days with an inch or more of rain. Despite it being a wet month, it was D.C.'s ninth December over the last decade that featured below average snowfall with only 0.1 inches. December is typically the District's 4th snowiest month of the year, with an average of 1.7 inches, according to NOAA.
Overall, the 2023-2024 winter finished with 8 inches of snow in the nation's capital. That's below D.C.'s seasonal average of 13.7 inches. Washington, D.C. hasn't had a snowier than average winter since 2018-2019.
With the exception of eight days in mid-January, the rest of the winter was largely warmer than average. Consequently, with an average temperature (combining daily high and low temperatures) for the three-month period of 43.2 degrees, the 2023-2024 winter will finish tied as D.C.'s 6th warmest on record.
Meteorological winter is comprised of the three-month period of December, January and February.
DC's 10 warmest winters (Source: NOAA)
1. 44.6° (1931-1932)
2. 44.3° (1889-1890)
3. 44.0° (2022-2023)
4. 43.9° (2016-2017)
5. 43.4° (2011-2012)
6. 43.2° (2023-2024, 2001-2002)
7. 42.9° (1949-1950)
8. 42.8° (2019-2020)
9. 42.5° (1997-1998)
10. 42.2° (1948-1949)
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