D C Weather.Net

Washington DC Weather

Washington DC is the capital of the United States and it is located in the Mid-Atlantic between Maryland and Virginia. Washington DC is located at a great spot because DC weather is mild compared to the northern states. DC gets a little of the north and a little of the south when it comes to weather. Washington DC weather is considered humid subtropical climate and the summers do in fact get humid. The winters do in some cases see a high snow accumulation, but that is nothing compared to states like New Jersey, New York, Connecticut and Massachusetts.

The springtime and the autumn are generally warm to mild, not getting cold until the winter. The area is close to the Atlantic but not close enough to be affected by the ocean. The one effect that the Atlantic Ocean can have on the city of Washington is in the form of hurricanes during hurricane season.

Rainfall

Washington DC weather does get its fair share of precipitation with a yearly average close to 40 inches. The rainiest month in average in Washington DC is May, and May is the month when thunderstorms start becoming a little more common. May sees close to four inches in average of precipitation each year, but it has seen a lot more than that in the past. As far as rainy days in DC weather, May is still at the top of the list with an average of 11.1 rainy days per year.

The city of DC sees a total of 114.1 rainy days per year. The month with the least precipitation in the District of Columbia is February, but February is also the month with the highest amount of snowfall each year with a total of 5.7 inches every year. On a side note, January also sees the same 5.7 inches per year, but it does have a higher amount of precipitation.

Summers In Washington DC

If you are visiting Washington DC in the summer then you should be ready for a lot of humidity. Washington DC weather in the summer can be really hot and humid with July being the hottest month of the year. The average temperature in Washington DC in July is a hot 88.5 F, but the mercury can go way higher than that. The hottest recorded high temperature in Washington DC weather is 106 F and when you factor in the humidity it can be the perfect formula for a horrible day. A lot of the people in Washington DC will prefer to stay or plan activities indoor instead of braving the high temperatures and humidity of the city. The average low for July is 71.2 F followed closely by August with an average low of 69.8.

Winters In DC

If you have decided to visit DC in the winter and you are visiting from the north of the country you will love the weather. People visiting from the south on the other hand may think that the city is too cold. The truth is that Washington DC weather can have a few snowstorms and blizzards do hit the city an average of once every 5 years. But Washington DC snow fall even in blizzard conditions will not be as much as the states to the north see each year. The average yearly snowfall for DC weather is only 15.5 inches, but if you get one of those January or February blizzards you may see more than the yearly average in a single storm. Most of the snowy days in the city are seen in January with an average of 3.1 days.

Best Time To Visit And Other Facts

The best time to visit the city without being affected much by DC weather is the fall. The spring is a beautiful time to visit as well, but it does see more rain than the autumn months. The autumn makes Washington DC a great place to visit because the humidity and the heat leaves and people get to see the beautiful side of DC weather. It is perfect for outdoor activities including visiting the many monuments and the National Mall. One thing that you do have to be aware of when you visit Washington DC is that it can be affected by the hurricane season.

Most of the time the city will see the back end of a tropical storm which means heavy rains, thunderstorms and the possibility of a tornado in the suburbs in Virginia and Maryland. Isabel in 2003 was one of the latest to cause any serious damage in the city.