RodneyS

FYI, I have discovered two other days where DCA also recorded an average temperature of 93.0. Those are July 6, 1999, with a maximum of 103 and a minimum of 83; and July 23, 2011, which was the same as yesterday -- maximum of 102 and a minimum of 84.

Today's DCA minimum of 84 tied the DC record high minimum set on July 16, 1983 and duplicated on both July 23rd and 24th 2011. Moreover, today's combination of a maximum of 102 and a minimum of 84 resulted in a daily average temperature of 93.0 -- second highest behind July 7, 2012. That day at DCA saw a maximum of 105 and a minimum of 82, for an average of 93.5.

According to my records, 2026 is actually the 12th driest first half in DC history, but you are correct that the first half of 2023 was even drier, at only 12.32 inches (5th driest). Interestingly, the driest and wettest first halves in DC history each occurred in the 19th century: Driest: 1872 with 10.49 inches Wettest: 1886 with 35.80 inches It should also be noted that calendar years 2023-2025 were each drier than normal, averaging only 36.27 inches annually. However, during 2018-2022 DCA averaged 50.71 inches -- the wettest five consecutive calendar years in DC history.

July 2026 DCA _ NYC _ BOS _ ORD _ ATL _ IAH _ DEN _ PHX _ SEA 0.8 1.5 1.4 0.4 0.0 0.8 2.2 -0.4 -0.4

I understood the rules -- I just went too low.

June 2026 at DCA was the 9th warmest June in DC history with an average temperature of 77.7 degrees -- 1.3 above the 1991-2020 normal. January-June 2026 averaged 54.8, the 23rd warmest first half in DC history. June 2026 precipitation at DCA totaled 1.68 inches, 2.52 below the 1991-2020 June normal of 4.20. For the first half of 2026, DCA precipitation totaled 13.71 inches, 6.60 below the 1991-2020 normal of 20.31.

Maximums DCA: 98 NYC: 96 BOS: 94 ORD: 93 ATL: 98 IAH: 100 DEN: 98 PHX: 114 SEA: 90

May 2026 at DCA tied for the 60th warmest May in DC history with an average temperature of 65.8 degrees -- 1.4 below the 1991-2020 normal. January-May 2026 averaged 50.2, the 27th warmest first five months in DC history. May 2026 precipitation at DCA totaled 2.85 inches, 1.09 below the 1991-2020 May normal of 3.94. For the first five months of 2026, DCA precipitation totaled 12.03 inches, 4.10 below the 1991-2020 normal of 16.13.

June DCA _ NYC _ BOS _ ORD _ ATL _ IAH _ DEN _ PHX _ SEA -0.1 0.0 -0.3 -2.3 -0.8 -1.3 2.0 0.6 0.5

April 2026 at DCA tied for the fifth warmest in DC history with an average temperature of 62.0 degrees. (Note: Edited on 5-1-2026 from "tied for the third warmest in DC history with an average temperature of 62.1 degrees.") January-April averaged 46.2, the 28th warmest first third of the year in DC history. April 2026 precipitation at DCA totaled 1.55 inches, 1.66 below the 1991-2020 normal of 3.21. For the first third of 2026, DCA precipitation totaled 9.18 inches, 3.01 below the 1991-2020 normal of 12.19.

DCA NYC BOS ORD ATL IAH DEN PHX SEA -1.8 -1.2 -0.6 -4.5 -1.8 -0.8 -0.3 0.7 2.1

April DCA _ NYC _ BOS _ ORD _ ATL _ IAH _ DEN _ PHX _ SEA 2.3 2.5 0.9 -0.6 1.9 1.7 3.2 2.1 0.1

You and @mappyneeded just that one more small Baltimore-Washington storm to push one of the two of you to victory and @AnEndlessMazedominated the IAD/DCA subdivision with a combined departure of just 0.1, but underestimated the BWI and RIC snow gods.

March 2026 ended the three-month cold streak at DCA with a bang, finishing at an average of 52.7 degrees -- tied for 8th warmest March in DC history. January-March averaged 40.9, the 52nd warmest first quarter in DC history, but the coldest since January-March 2015 averaged 37.3. March 2026 precipitation at DCA totaled 1.90 inches, 1.60 below the 1991-2020 normal of 3.50. For the first quarter of 2026, DCA totaled 7.63 inches, 1.20 below the 1991-2020 normal of 8.83.

The time has arrived to award the 2025-26 Mid-Atlantic Snowfall Contest trophy to @Cobalt. This snow season was a throwback to the good old days temperature-wise, as December, January, and February were not only each below 1991-2020 Mid-Atlantic normals, but even below 1871-2025 Mid-Atlantic averages. However, snowfall was limited by the now famous "snowcrete" snow/sleet storm of January 25th and near misses in late January and late February. Still, we did receive enough at the four airports to change the leader five times. Our 2022-23 champion @LittleVillageWxhung tough early on with a repeat of his lowball snow forecast that produced victory three years ago, but snowcrete then propelled@rjvanalsbriefly into the lead until final totals confirmed that @T. Augusthad taken command. T. August held on until February 23rd when @Chris78took over after early and late February snow. Headed into March, it appeared that he might win, but March 2nd and March 12th snow reports gave a brief lead to @Roger Smith. Alas, the initial BWI snow report for March 12th was inaccurate because despite hourly reports that strongly suggested that measurable snow had fallen there, the preliminary BWI snow report showed only a trace. When that report was corrected to 1.0 inch, @Cobaltsurged into the lead. Stunningly, we then learned that Roger had passed away on February 24th. Knowing Roger as I did, I am wondering if he sent down a message to the BWI weather authorities that their March 12th snow report was off-base and that he did not want to win the contest posthumously under false pretenses. In any event, it was a well-deserved victory for Cobalt, and Roger will have to wait for his next earthly sojourn to win his Mid-Atlantic trophy, even though he claimed many other successes during his long and illustrious forecasting career.