Washington, DC climate
Washington has chilly winters and warm summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 89°, a January night drops to 27°, and about 6 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals Updated once a decadeWhat a year in Washington feels like
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Washington weather by month
Average highs, lows, rain and snow for every month, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals.
| Month | High | Low | Rain + melt | Snow | Wet days | Snow on ground | 30-yr range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 44° | 27° | 2.9" | 2.9" | 10 | 2 | 27° – 42° |
| February | 47° | 28° | 2.6" | 1.4" | 9 | 2 | 28° – 45° |
| March | 56° | 35° | 3.8" | 0.7" | 12 | 1 | 40° – 55° |
| April | 67° | 45° | 3.4" | 0 | 11 | 0 | 52° – 61° |
| May | 76° | 55° | 4.2" | 0 | 12 | 0 | 61° – 71° |
| June | 84° | 64° | 4.3" | 0 | 10 | 0 | 70° – 78° |
| July | 89° | 69° | 4.6" | 0 | 10 | 0 | 74° – 82° |
| August | 87° | 67° | 3.8" | 0 | 10 | 0 | 72° – 80° |
| September | 80° | 60° | 4.3" | 0 | 10 | 0 | 67° – 74° |
| October | 69° | 48° | 3.8" | 0 | 9 | 0 | 54° – 65° |
| November | 57° | 38° | 3.1" | 0 | 9 | 0 | 42° – 52° |
| December | 48° | 31° | 3.7" | 0.8" | 11 | 1 | 30° – 50° |
| Year | 67° | 47° | 44.3" | 5.8" | 123 | 6 |
“Wet days” have at least 0.01" of rain or melted snow. “Snow on ground” counts days with 1" or more. The 30-year range is the coldest and warmest that month’s average temperature got between 1991 and 2020.
Rain and snow in Washington
Washington gets 44 inches of rain and melted snow a year. July is the wettest month and February the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 123 days a year. Snow covers the ground about 6 days of the year.
About 202 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by April 9 and the first one by October 31. That leaves about 202 frost-free days for gardens, longer than 73% of U.S. towns.
Heating and cooling a home in Washington
Engineers use “degree days” to estimate how hard a furnace or air conditioner works. In Washington, 77% of that work is heating and 23% is cooling.
Degree days measure how far each day’s average temperature falls below or rises above 65°, added up over a year. Source: NOAA station normals.
Washington and its neighbors
Washington borders 6 towns with climate data. January nights across them vary by 1.2°. Silver Spring has the coldest January nights (26°) and Alexandria the hottest July afternoons (89°). Washington’s January low is 27° and its July high 89°.
Temperatures and rain come from NOAA’s 5 km grid, so each town gets its own value.
How Washington compares
Compared with every U.S. town and city on TownTapestry, each counted once.
Warmer than it used to be
The last 30 years in Washington averaged 1.7° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in December (+2.8°). The shift is larger than in 82% of U.S. towns.
Change by month1991–2020 average minus 1901–2000 average, at Washington’s spot on NOAA’s grid
How much a month can swing
A normal is an average, and real years wander around it. December swings the most: between 1991 and 2020 its average temperature ranged from 30° to 50°. September is the most reliable, staying within 8°.
Common questions about Washington’s climate
What is the coldest month in Washington?
January, with a typical high of 44° and a low of 27°.
What is the hottest month in Washington?
July, with a typical high of 89° and a low of 69°. About 44 days a year reach 90°.
How much snow does Washington get?
About 6 inches in a normal winter, most of it in January.
When is the first frost in Washington?
In half of years the first 32° night comes by October 31, and the last spring frost by April 9.
What is the rainiest month in Washington?
July, with 4.6 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 44 inches.
Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for Washington itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at Dalecarlia Rsvr, MD (6 mi) away. Normals are 30-year averages, not a forecast. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 and 1901–2000.