Our region's extreme run

[RodneyS]

On 3/31/2014 at 8:58 PM, RodneyS said:

It may have occurred to most in this area that March 2014 was a rather up and down month.  How up and down?  Since official daily temperature records began in DC in January 1872, there have now been a total of 1707 months recorded, listing the minimum and maximum temperature for each day of each month. According to my figures, with respect to the average daily change in maximum temperature, March 2014 month was -- drum roll, please --  number one!  That's correct, with an average daily change in the maximum temperature of 12.4 degrees at DCA, March 2014 displaced long-time record-holder February 1900 (12.1).  Also, with respect to the average daily change in the mean temperature, March 2014 was number three, at 9.1 degree.  January 1916 remains the record-holder in that category, at 9.34 degrees, narrowly edging January 1950, at 9.32 degrees.  Here are the top five months in each category: 

 

Average Daily Change in Maximum Temperature

March 2014, 12.4

February 1900, 12.1

March 1934, 11.9

March 1923, 11.71

February 1918, 11.68

 

Average Daily Change in Mean Temperature

January 1916, 9.34
January 1950, 9.32
March 2014, 9.1
Febuary 1900, 8.8
March 1938, 8.7

 

February 2022 at DCA did not come close to matching March 2014 in either of the above categories, but did manage to tie for 20th in official DC weather history in the first one, with 1802 months now in the books.  That's still quite impressive, especially since it's the second highest in the last 35 years.  You wil note that all of these months are in either January (4), February (6), March (8), or April (3):

Highest Average Daily Change in Maximum Temperature
March 2014, 12.42 

February 1900, 12.11 

March 1934, 11.94 

March 1923, 11.71 

March 1911, 11.58

January 1950, 11.32

March 1935, 11.29

February 1893, 11.04

February 1917, 10.96

March 1907, 10.90

February 1918, 10.89

March 1987, 10.87

April 1965, 10.83

April 1926, 10.77

January 1937, 10.74

March 1890, 10.74

April 1936, 10.70

January 1885, 10.65

January 1890, 10.65

February 1883 10.64

February 2022, 10.64

[RodneyS]

I just posted this on the Capital Weather Gang page: 

 

I think the most interesting fact about this storm is that it produced the first consecutive days with at least an inch of precipitation at Reagan National Airport since July 2018:

 

July 21, 2018: 4.00

July 22, 2018: 1.15

 

May 6, 2022: 1.00

May 7, 2022: 1.29

[RodneyS]

23 hours ago, RodneyS said:

I just posted this on the Capital Weather Gang page: 

 

I think the most interesting fact about this storm is that it produced the first consecutive days with at least an inch of precipitation at Reagan National Airport since July 2018:

 

July 21, 2018: 4.00

July 22, 2018: 1.15

 

May 6, 2022: 1.00

May 7, 2022: 1.29

The rain was followed by the coldest Mother's Day maximum at Reagan since May 14, 1967.  Both this year and 55 years ago, it was 58.

[nw baltimore wx]

4 minutes ago, RodneyS said:

The rain was followed by the coldest Mother's Day maximum at Reagan since May 14, 1967.  Both this year and 55 years ago, it was 58.

Coldest Mother’s Day or coldest May 8th? Or maybe both?

[RodneyS]

2 minutes ago, nw baltimore wx said:

Coldest Mother’s Day or coldest May 8th? Or maybe both?

Mother's Day.  May 8, 2006 reached only 57 at Reagan, but that was on a Monday.  Mother's Day 2006 was on May 14th and reached 63.

[RodneyS]

Today is the rainiest at DCA since September 30, 2010, and is currently the 22nd rainiest day in DC history. It could move up a little further, with some evening rain. Figures are in inches:

 

1) 6.39 August 23, 1933 (Wednesday)

2) 6.14 August 2, 1944 (Wednesday)

3) 6.11 June 21, 1972 (Wednesday)

4) 5.97 August 11, 1928 (Saturday)

5) 5.44 August 12, 1955 (Friday)

6) 5.19 June 25, 2006 (Sunday)

7) 5.16 September 2, 1922 (Saturday)

8) 4.92 August 12, 1898 (Friday)

9) 4.83 August 20, 1963 (Tuesday)

10) 4.76 September 16, 1976 (Thursday)

11) 4.69 July 9, 1970 (Thursday)

12) 4.66 September 30, 2010 (Thursday)

13) 4.49 September 4, 1939 (Monday)

14) 4.45 September 5, 1935 (Thursday)

15) 4.35 July 22, 1969 (Tuesday)

16) 4.25 July 30, 1878 (Tuesday)

17) 4.22 June 26, 2006 (Monday)

18) 4.16 June 22, 1886 (Tuesday)

19) 4.15 September 16, 1874 (Wednesday)

20) 4.12 July 30, 1876 (Sunday)

21) 4.07 September 14, 1966 (Wednesday)

22) 4.05 July 9, 2022 (Saturday)

23) 4.03 August 8, 1942 (Saturday)

24) 4.02 September 12, 1934 (Wednesday)

25) 4.00 July 21, 2018 (Saturday)

[StormchaserChuck!]

Does 02-03 ring a bell. 

[RodneyS]

3 hours ago, StormchaserChuck! said:

Does 02-03 ring a bell. 

Yes, in terms of it being the wettest February on record in DC, at 6.98 inches.  February 2003 also featured the Presidents Day II snow storm, which dropped 16.7 inches of snow at DCA during February 15-18, and a major rainfall event of 2.27 inches there on February 22nd.  

[RodneyS]

October 4th peaked at 55 degrees this afternoon at both DCA and IAD, setting low maximum records for DC and Dulles. 

[RodneyS]

On 7/9/2022 at 7:06 PM, RodneyS said:

Today is the rainiest at DCA since September 30, 2010, and is currently the 22nd rainiest day in DC history. It could move up a little further, with some evening rain. Figures are in inches:

 

1) 6.39 August 23, 1933 (Wednesday)

2) 6.14 August 2, 1944 (Wednesday)

3) 6.11 June 21, 1972 (Wednesday)

4) 5.97 August 11, 1928 (Saturday)

5) 5.44 August 12, 1955 (Friday)

6) 5.19 June 25, 2006 (Sunday)

7) 5.16 September 2, 1922 (Saturday)

8) 4.92 August 12, 1898 (Friday)

9) 4.83 August 20, 1963 (Tuesday)

10) 4.76 September 16, 1976 (Thursday)

11) 4.69 July 9, 1970 (Thursday)

12) 4.66 September 30, 2010 (Thursday)

13) 4.49 September 4, 1939 (Monday)

14) 4.45 September 5, 1935 (Thursday)

15) 4.35 July 22, 1969 (Tuesday)

16) 4.25 July 30, 1878 (Tuesday)

17) 4.22 June 26, 2006 (Monday)

18) 4.16 June 22, 1886 (Tuesday)

19) 4.15 September 16, 1874 (Wednesday)

20) 4.12 July 30, 1876 (Sunday)

21) 4.07 September 14, 1966 (Wednesday)

22) 4.05 July 9, 2022 (Saturday)

23) 4.03 August 8, 1942 (Saturday)

24) 4.02 September 12, 1934 (Wednesday)

25) 4.00 July 21, 2018 (Saturday)

While today's DCA total of 1.88 inches is a long way from any of the above days, it is the wettest winter (astronomical or meteorological) day in exactly four years.  December 15, 2018 established the record for this calendar day with 2.55 inches.

[MN Transplant]

13 hours ago, RodneyS said:

While today's DCA total of 1.88 inches is a long way from any of the above days, it is the wettest winter (astronomical or meteorological) day in exactly four years.  December 15, 2018 established the record for this calendar day with 2.55 inches.

Yesterday I checked in on the records because I figured that we must be close to a daily record, but no such luck.  

 

 

[mattie g]

13 hours ago, RodneyS said:

While today's DCA total of 1.88 inches is a long way from any of the above days, it is the wettest winter (astronomical or meteorological) day in exactly four years.  December 15, 2018 established the record for this calendar day with 2.55 inches.

Them crazy Ninas...

[RodneyS]

I just posted this on the Capital Weather Gang page:

Yesterday's 43-degree temperature range at DCA (55 maximum, 12 minimum) was the widest in exactly 24 years and one day, and tied for the 13th widest in DC history. On December 22, 1998, the mercury plunged from a high of 67 to a low of 24. The widest range ever in DC was March 22, 1907 when the temperature rose from a morning low of 40 to an afternoon high of 90.

[RodneyS]

7 hours ago, RodneyS said:

I just posted this on the Capital Weather Gang page:

Yesterday's 43-degree temperature range at DCA (55 maximum, 12 minimum) was the widest in exactly 24 years and one day, and tied for the 13th widest in DC history. On December 22, 1998, the mercury plunged from a high of 67 to a low of 24. The widest range ever in DC was March 22, 1907 when the temperature rose from a morning low of 40 to an afternoon high of 90.

DCA and IAD have each reached what appears to be their maximum temperatures of 22 degrees for today, which breaks the 1989 Christmas Eve record low maximum of 23 at DCA and ties the 1989 Christmas Eve record low maximum at IAD.

[RodneyS]

After our Christmas weekend freeze, January so far has been a thaw and then some: Today marked the third straight 60+ degree reading at DCA, which had never previously happened in DC weather history to begin the year.

[kgottwald]

The folks at CapitalWeather speculate that we might be on track to beat January 1950 for pure blowtorchness.

[RodneyS]

13 hours ago, RodneyS said:

After our Christmas weekend freeze, January so far has been a thaw and then some: Today marked the third straight 60+ degree reading at DCA, which had never previously happened in DC weather history to begin the year.

Today at DCA marks four straight days with 60+ readings. As I noted yesterday, no calendar year in DC had ever previously begun with even three straight 60+ readings. However, in 1998, after New Year's Day peaked at only 35 at DCA, eight straight days (January 2-9) reached at least 60.

[RodneyS]

On 1/4/2023 at 10:21 AM, RodneyS said:

Today at DCA marks four straight days with 60+ readings. As I noted yesterday, no calendar year in DC had ever previously begun with even three straight 60+ readings. However, in 1998, after New Year's Day peaked at only 35 at DCA, eight straight days (January 2-9) reached at least 60.

The 60+ degree weather streak at DCA to begin the New Year has reached a DC record five days. However, that streak will almost certainly end today, and so will not challenge the more general eight-day January 60+ degree streak that began on January 2, 1998.

[RodneyS]

22 hours ago, RodneyS said:

The 60+ degree weather streak at DCA to begin the New Year has reached a DC record five days. However, that streak will almost certainly end today, and so will not challenge the more general eight-day January 60+ degree streak that began on January 2, 1998.

The 60+ degree weather streak has ended, but it established a DC record for the first five days of the year for both average maximum and average mean temperatures.  January 1-5, 2023 averaged a 65.0 maximum, breaking the January 1-5, 2000 record of 62.3; and a 55.6 mean, breaking the January 1-5, 1950 record of 54.5.

[RodneyS]

DCA finished January 2023 with the third warmest (of 153 years) January average temperature in DC -- 45.2 degrees.  January 1950 is # 1 at 48.0 and January 1932 is # 2 at 46.8.

[RodneyS]

On 2/1/2023 at 10:26 AM, RodneyS said:

DCA finished January 2023 with the third warmest (of 153 years) January average temperature in DC -- 45.2 degrees.  January 1950 is # 1 at 48.0 and January 1932 is # 2 at 46.8.

Speaking of warm, DCA broke the high temperature record for February 23rd today with a maximum of 81 (old record 78, set in 1874).  That was the 4th 80-degree plus February reading in DC history, with the highest being 84 on February 25, 1930.  IAD also broke the record today with a maximum of 80 (old record 77, set in 2017).  That tied February 21, 2018 for the highest February reading in IAD history.

[Eskimo Joe]

We are so due for a crazy flood/severe season.

[WxUSAF]

8 hours ago, Eskimo Joe said:

We are so due for a crazy flood/severe season.

Our standards are very different, but last year had the fewest thunderstorms for MBY I can recall living in MD.

[Its a Breeze]

Not close to Christmas Eve Eve's 43 degree same day temperature change, but yesterday's 36 degree temp change (in the wrong, but felt so right, way) was the second 35+ degree same day change we've seen so far this season...

[Eskimo Joe]

13 hours ago, WxUSAF said:

Our standards are very different, but last year had the fewest thunderstorms for MBY I can recall living in MD.

Once the mesonet stations go in this year, we'll have better access to identifying mesoscale features and supporting warn-on (hopefully!) processes. Really exciting times coming locally to summer weather lovers.

[RodneyS]

On 2/1/2023 at 10:26 AM, RodneyS said:

DCA finished January 2023 with the third warmest (of 153 years) January average temperature in DC -- 45.2 degrees.  January 1950 is # 1 at 48.0 and January 1932 is # 2 at 46.8.

February 2023 was another warm one at DCA, averaging 46.7 degrees, good enough for third all-time in DC, behind only 2017 (47.7) and 1976 (46.9).  Moreover, while neither January nor February 2023 broke the DC average monthly high temperature record, the two months combined did, averaging 45.9 degrees for the first 59 days of the year.  The previous record-holder was January-February 1932, which averaged a full degree lower, at 44.9 for the first 60 days (60 days because 1932 was a leap year. However, if the first 59 days of 1932 are used instead, they also averaged 44.9.)

[WxUSAF]

Warmest February on record for BWI and 3rd for DCA I believe.

[MN Transplant]

2 hours ago, RodneyS said:

February 2023 was another warm one at DCA, averaging 46.8 degrees, good enough for third all-time in DC, behind only 2017 (47.7) and 1976 (46.9).  Moreover, while neither January nor February 2023 broke the DC average monthly high temperature record, the two months combined did, averaging 45.9 degrees for the first 59 days of the year.  The previous record-holder was January-February 1932, which averaged a full degree lower, at 44.9 for the first 60 days (60 days because 1932 was a leap year. However, if the first 59 days of 1932 are used instead, they also averaged 44.9.)

If you wanted to draw up a start to the warmest year on record, this is how you'd do it.

[pazzo83]

2 hours ago, MN Transplant said:

If you wanted to draw up a start to the warmest year on record, this is how you'd do it.

if we really do flip to a Niño, we might just do it.  We are due for a brutal summer.

[pazzo83]

46F for Jan + Feb is insane - that's basically a normal Jan & Feb for Atlanta, GA.