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Washington, D.C. Weather Records and Extremes

Record highs and lows for Washington, D.C., threaded from 1 station; the hottest day was 40.6 C (105.1 F) on 17 August 1997, with the station behind every year.

Key Facts for Washington, D.C.

  • The highest maximum temperature on record in Washington, D.C. is 40.6 C (105.1 F), set on 17 August 1997.
  • The lowest minimum temperature on record in Washington, D.C. is -20.6 C (-5.1 F), set on 17 January 1982.
  • The lowest maximum temperature on record in Washington, D.C. is -13.3 C (8.1 F), set on 19 January 1994.
  • The highest minimum temperature on record in Washington, D.C. is 28.9 C (84.0 F), set on 16 July 1983.
  • The Washington, D.C. record is threaded from 1 station and runs from 1941 to 2026, 86 years.
  • 1,464 daily records at Washington, D.C. still stand.
  • 1963 holds the most standing records at Washington, D.C.: 34.

Stations Behind the Washington, D.C. Record

86 years of record
Stations threaded into the Washington, D.C. record
StationFromToNotes
Washington Reagan Natl AP19412026Washington Reagan National Airport.

Caveats

    All-Time Extremes

    All-time temperature extremes at Washington, D.C.
    ExtremeValueDateStation
    Highest maximum40.6 C (105.1 F)17 August 1997Washington Reagan Natl AP
    Lowest maximum-13.3 C (8.1 F)19 January 1994Washington Reagan Natl AP
    Highest minimum28.9 C (84.0 F)16 July 1983Washington Reagan Natl AP
    Lowest minimum-20.6 C (-5.1 F)17 January 1982Washington Reagan Natl AP

    Daily Record Envelope and 2026

    12 days at or beyond a record
    Daily record high and record low at Washington, D.C., with 2026 drawn through them The band shows the record high and record low for each calendar day at Washington, D.C.. The lines show the 2026 daily maximum and minimum. 12 days in 2026 matched or passed a record. Temperatures are in degrees Celsius. -40-200204060 JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
    The band shows the record high and record low for each calendar day at Washington, D.C.. The lines show the 2026 daily maximum and minimum. 12 days in 2026 matched or passed a record. Temperatures are in degrees Celsius.
    Daily record high and record low at Washington, D.C., with 2026 drawn through them
    MonthHighest record highLowest record low2026 highest maximum2026 lowest minimum
    Jan26.7 C (80.1 F)-20.6 C (-5.1 F)17.2 C (63.0 F)-12.2 C (10.0 F)
    Feb27.8 C (82.0 F)-15.6 C (3.9 F)18.3 C (64.9 F)-10.0 C (14.0 F)
    Mar31.7 C (89.1 F)-11.7 C (10.9 F)30.0 C (86.0 F)-2.8 C (27.0 F)
    Apr35.0 C (95.0 F)-4.4 C (24.1 F)32.2 C (90.0 F)1.7 C (35.1 F)
    May37.2 C (99.0 F)1.1 C (34.0 F)36.1 C (97.0 F)6.7 C (44.1 F)
    Jun40.0 C (104.0 F)8.3 C (46.9 F)37.8 C (100.0 F)12.8 C (55.0 F)
    Jul40.6 C (105.1 F)12.2 C (54.0 F)39.4 C (102.9 F)18.9 C (66.0 F)
    Aug40.6 C (105.1 F)9.4 C (48.9 F)34.4 C (93.9 F)17.8 C (64.0 F)
    Sep38.3 C (100.9 F)3.9 C (39.0 F)36.7 C (98.1 F)11.7 C (53.1 F)
    Oct36.7 C (98.1 F)-1.7 C (28.9 F)30.0 C (86.0 F)9.4 C (48.9 F)
    Nov30.0 C (86.0 F)-8.9 C (16.0 F)n/an/a
    Dec26.1 C (79.0 F)-17.2 C (1.0 F)n/an/a

    Which Years Hold Standing Records

    1,464 standing records
    Standing records at Washington, D.C. by the year they were set 1,464 records at Washington, D.C. still stand. 1963 holds the most, with 34. 0102030401941: 141942: 231943: 251944: 141945: 281946: 231947: 271948: 171949: 171950: 221951: 201952: 191953: 201954: 291955: 141956: 281957: 171958: 181959: 181960: 241961: 241962: 231963: 341964: 271965: 201966: 151967: 211968: 161969: 111970: 191971: 121972: 261973: 101974: 201975: 101976: 191977: 151978: 71979: 321980: 191981: 121982: 161983: 221984: 101985: 91986: 161987: 111988: 181989: 251990: 251991: 331992: 91993: 181994: 151995: 81996: 161997: 171998: 111999: 112000: 132001: 112002: 232003: 112004: 32005: 92006: 112007: 122008: 92009: 92010: 132011: 232012: 242013: 92014: 112015: 252016: 232017: 162018: 212019: 102020: 62021: 162022: 102023: 102024: 162025: 52026: 161941195019591968197719861995200420132022
    1,464 records at Washington, D.C. still stand. 1963 holds the most, with 34.
    Standing records at Washington, D.C. by the year they were set
    Year setStanding records
    194114
    194223
    194325
    194414
    194528
    194623
    194727
    194817
    194917
    195022
    195120
    195219
    195320
    195429
    195514
    195628
    195717
    195818
    195918
    196024
    196124
    196223
    196334
    196427
    196520
    196615
    196721
    196816
    196911
    197019
    197112
    197226
    197310
    197420
    197510
    197619
    197715
    19787
    197932
    198019
    198112
    198216
    198322
    198410
    19859
    198616
    198711
    198818
    198925
    199025
    199133
    19929
    199318
    199415
    19958
    199616
    199717
    199811
    199911
    200013
    200111
    200223
    200311
    20043
    20059
    200611
    200712
    20089
    20099
    201013
    201123
    201224
    20139
    201411
    201525
    201623
    201716
    201821
    201910
    20206
    202116
    202210
    202310
    202416
    20255
    202616

    All-Time Record Progression

    12 new records
    When Washington, D.C. set new all-time records 12 all-time records were set at Washington, D.C. between 21 June 1972 and 17 August 1997. Each dot is a new record. Record daily precipitationRecord daily snowfallRecord snow depthRecord high minimum temperatureRecord low maximum temperatureRecord low minimum temperatureRecord high maximum temperature21 June 1972: Record daily precipitation 155.2 mm (6.1 in)19 February 1979: Record daily snowfall 35.6 cm (14.0 in)19 February 1979: Record snow depth 45.7 cm (18.0 in)20 February 1979: Record snow depth 55.9 cm (22.0 in)9 July 1981: Record high minimum temperature 27.8 C (82.0 F)17 January 1982: Record low maximum temperature -12.2 C (10.0 F)17 January 1982: Record low minimum temperature -20.6 C (-5.1 F)11 February 1983: Record daily snowfall 41.7 cm (16.4 in)16 July 1983: Record high minimum temperature 28.9 C (84.0 F)16 July 1988: Record high maximum temperature 40.0 C (104.0 F)19 January 1994: Record low maximum temperature -13.3 C (8.1 F)17 August 1997: Record high maximum temperature 40.6 C (105.1 F)19751980198519901995
    12 all-time records were set at Washington, D.C. between 21 June 1972 and 17 August 1997. Each dot is a new record.
    When Washington, D.C. set new all-time records
    DateKindDetail
    1972-06-21Record daily precipitationRecord daily precipitation 155.2 mm (6.1 in)
    1979-02-19Record daily snowfallRecord daily snowfall 35.6 cm (14.0 in)
    1979-02-19Record snow depthRecord snow depth 45.7 cm (18.0 in)
    1979-02-20Record snow depthRecord snow depth 55.9 cm (22.0 in)
    1981-07-09Record high minimum temperatureRecord high minimum temperature 27.8 C (82.0 F)
    1982-01-17Record low maximum temperatureRecord low maximum temperature -12.2 C (10.0 F)
    1982-01-17Record low minimum temperatureRecord low minimum temperature -20.6 C (-5.1 F)
    1983-02-11Record daily snowfallRecord daily snowfall 41.7 cm (16.4 in)
    1983-07-16Record high minimum temperatureRecord high minimum temperature 28.9 C (84.0 F)
    1988-07-16Record high maximum temperatureRecord high maximum temperature 40.0 C (104.0 F)
    1994-01-19Record low maximum temperatureRecord low maximum temperature -13.3 C (8.1 F)
    1997-08-17Record high maximum temperatureRecord high maximum temperature 40.6 C (105.1 F)

    Wettest Day of Each Month

    Jun: 155.2 mm (6.1 in)
    Record daily precipitation for each month at Washington, D.C. The wettest day on record for each calendar month at Washington, D.C.. The most was 155.2 mm (6.1 in) on 21 June 1972. 050100150200 Jan: 56.9 mm (2.2 in), 9 January 2024 Jan Feb: 57.7 mm (2.3 in), 22 February 2003 Feb Mar: 58.2 mm (2.3 in), 13 March 1993 Mar Apr: 77.2 mm (3.0 in), 14 April 1970 Apr May: 82.3 mm (3.2 in), 5 May 1953 May Jun: 155.2 mm (6.1 in), 21 June 1972 Jun Jul: 119.1 mm (4.7 in), 9 July 1970 Jul Aug: 144.5 mm (5.7 in), 8 August 1942 Aug Sep: 120.9 mm (4.8 in), 16 September 1976 Sep Oct: 97.8 mm (3.9 in), 29 October 2012 Oct Nov: 78.0 mm (3.1 in), 8 November 1943 Nov Dec: 78.7 mm (3.1 in), 7 December 2011 Dec
    The wettest day on record for each calendar month at Washington, D.C.. The most was 155.2 mm (6.1 in) on 21 June 1972.
    Record daily precipitation for each month at Washington, D.C.
    MonthRecord daily precipitation (mm)Date
    Jan56.9 mm (2.2 in)9 January 2024
    Feb57.7 mm (2.3 in)22 February 2003
    Mar58.2 mm (2.3 in)13 March 1993
    Apr77.2 mm (3.0 in)14 April 1970
    May82.3 mm (3.2 in)5 May 1953
    Jun155.2 mm (6.1 in)21 June 1972
    Jul119.1 mm (4.7 in)9 July 1970
    Aug144.5 mm (5.7 in)8 August 1942
    Sep120.9 mm (4.8 in)16 September 1976
    Oct97.8 mm (3.9 in)29 October 2012
    Nov78.0 mm (3.1 in)8 November 1943
    Dec78.7 mm (3.1 in)7 December 2011

    Period of Record Coverage

    1941 to 2026
    Days with data per year at Washington, D.C. 86 years of record at Washington, D.C., 1941 to 2026. 2 years have data for under 90 percent of days and are left out of rankings: 1941, 2026. 1941: 199 of 365 days1942: 365 of 365 days1943: 365 of 365 days1944: 366 of 366 days1945: 365 of 365 days1946: 365 of 365 days1947: 365 of 365 days1948: 366 of 366 days1949: 365 of 365 days1950: 365 of 365 days1951: 365 of 365 days1952: 366 of 366 days1953: 365 of 365 days1954: 365 of 365 days1955: 365 of 365 days1956: 366 of 366 days1957: 365 of 365 days1958: 365 of 365 days1959: 365 of 365 days1960: 366 of 366 days1961: 365 of 365 days1962: 365 of 365 days1963: 365 of 365 days1964: 366 of 366 days1965: 365 of 365 days1966: 365 of 365 days1967: 365 of 365 days1968: 366 of 366 days1969: 365 of 365 days1970: 365 of 365 days1971: 365 of 365 days1972: 366 of 366 days1973: 365 of 365 days1974: 365 of 365 days1975: 365 of 365 days1976: 366 of 366 days1977: 365 of 365 days1978: 365 of 365 days1979: 365 of 365 days1980: 366 of 366 days1981: 365 of 365 days1982: 365 of 365 days1983: 365 of 365 days1984: 366 of 366 days1985: 365 of 365 days1986: 365 of 365 days1987: 365 of 365 days1988: 366 of 366 days1989: 365 of 365 days1990: 365 of 365 days1991: 365 of 365 days1992: 366 of 366 days1993: 365 of 365 days1994: 365 of 365 days1995: 365 of 365 days1996: 366 of 366 days1997: 365 of 365 days1998: 365 of 365 days1999: 365 of 365 days2000: 366 of 366 days2001: 365 of 365 days2002: 365 of 365 days2003: 365 of 365 days2004: 366 of 366 days2005: 365 of 365 days2006: 365 of 365 days2007: 365 of 365 days2008: 366 of 366 days2009: 365 of 365 days2010: 365 of 365 days2011: 365 of 365 days2012: 366 of 366 days2013: 365 of 365 days2014: 365 of 365 days2015: 365 of 365 days2016: 366 of 366 days2017: 365 of 365 days2018: 365 of 365 days2019: 365 of 365 days2020: 366 of 366 days2021: 365 of 365 days2022: 365 of 365 days2023: 365 of 365 days2024: 366 of 366 days2025: 365 of 365 days2026: 282 of 365 days195019651980199520102025
    86 years of record at Washington, D.C., 1941 to 2026. 2 years have data for under 90 percent of days and are left out of rankings: 1941, 2026.
    Days with data per year at Washington, D.C.
    YearDays with dataShare of yearComplete
    194119955%No
    1942365100%Yes
    1943365100%Yes
    1944366100%Yes
    1945365100%Yes
    1946365100%Yes
    1947365100%Yes
    1948366100%Yes
    1949365100%Yes
    1950365100%Yes
    1951365100%Yes
    1952366100%Yes
    1953365100%Yes
    1954365100%Yes
    1955365100%Yes
    1956366100%Yes
    1957365100%Yes
    1958365100%Yes
    1959365100%Yes
    1960366100%Yes
    1961365100%Yes
    1962365100%Yes
    1963365100%Yes
    1964366100%Yes
    1965365100%Yes
    1966365100%Yes
    1967365100%Yes
    1968366100%Yes
    1969365100%Yes
    1970365100%Yes
    1971365100%Yes
    1972366100%Yes
    1973365100%Yes
    1974365100%Yes
    1975365100%Yes
    1976366100%Yes
    1977365100%Yes
    1978365100%Yes
    1979365100%Yes
    1980366100%Yes
    1981365100%Yes
    1982365100%Yes
    1983365100%Yes
    1984366100%Yes
    1985365100%Yes
    1986365100%Yes
    1987365100%Yes
    1988366100%Yes
    1989365100%Yes
    1990365100%Yes
    1991365100%Yes
    1992366100%Yes
    1993365100%Yes
    1994365100%Yes
    1995365100%Yes
    1996366100%Yes
    1997365100%Yes
    1998365100%Yes
    1999365100%Yes
    2000366100%Yes
    2001365100%Yes
    2002365100%Yes
    2003365100%Yes
    2004366100%Yes
    2005365100%Yes
    2006365100%Yes
    2007365100%Yes
    2008366100%Yes
    2009365100%Yes
    2010365100%Yes
    2011365100%Yes
    2012366100%Yes
    2013365100%Yes
    2014365100%Yes
    2015365100%Yes
    2016366100%Yes
    2017365100%Yes
    2018365100%Yes
    2019365100%Yes
    2020366100%Yes
    2021365100%Yes
    2022365100%Yes
    2023365100%Yes
    2024366100%Yes
    2025365100%Yes
    202628277%No

    Latest Records

    Latest records at Washington, D.C.
    DateStationRecordValueBeat old record byOld record stoodSignificance
    20 September 2026Washington Reagan Natl AP, USdaily high min (Tie, Provisional)22.8 C (73.0 F)tie60 years6 of 100 (Routine)
    18 September 2026Washington Reagan Natl AP, USdaily high min (Tie, Provisional)22.8 C (73.0 F)tie84 years8 of 100 (Routine)
    13 September 2026Washington Reagan Natl AP, USdaily high min (Tie, Provisional)23.3 C (73.9 F)tie17 years3 of 100 (Routine)
    1 September 2026Washington Reagan Natl AP, USdaily high min (Tie, Provisional)25.0 C (77.0 F)tie52 years5 of 100 (Routine)
    4 July 2026Washington Reagan Natl AP, USdaily high max39.4 C (102.9 F)2.2 C (4.0 F)27 years22 of 100 (Routine)
    3 July 2026Washington Reagan Natl AP, USdaily high max38.9 C (102.0 F)0.6 C (1.1 F)60 years27 of 100 (Routine)
    3 July 2026Washington Reagan Natl AP, USall-time high min (Tie)28.9 C (84.0 F)tie42 years10 of 100 (Routine)
    2 July 2026Washington Reagan Natl AP, USdaily high max38.9 C (102.0 F)1.7 C (3.1 F)12 years16 of 100 (Routine)
    2 July 2026Washington Reagan Natl AP, USdaily high min26.7 C (80.1 F)0.6 C (1.1 F)13 years14 of 100 (Routine)
    12 June 2026Washington Reagan Natl AP, USdaily high max37.8 C (100.0 F)2.8 C (5.0 F)40 years27 of 100 (Routine)
    11 June 2026Washington Reagan Natl AP, USdaily high max37.2 C (99.0 F)1.1 C (2.0 F)41 years22 of 100 (Routine)
    5 June 2026Washington Reagan Natl AP, USdaily high max33.3 C (91.9 F)0.5 C (0.9 F)83 years33 of 100 (Routine)
    20 May 2026Washington Reagan Natl AP, USdaily high max (Tie)35.6 C (96.1 F)tie29 years4 of 100 (Routine)
    19 May 2026Washington Reagan Natl AP, USdaily high max36.1 C (97.0 F)0.5 C (0.9 F)28 years17 of 100 (Routine)
    19 May 2026Washington Reagan Natl AP, USdaily high min (Tie)22.2 C (72.0 F)tie11 years2 of 100 (Routine)
    17 April 2026Washington Reagan Natl AP, USdaily high min20.0 C (68.0 F)1.7 C (3.1 F)24 years19 of 100 (Routine)
    16 April 2026Washington Reagan Natl AP, USdaily high min18.9 C (66.0 F)0.6 C (1.1 F)24 years16 of 100 (Routine)
    15 April 2026Washington Reagan Natl AP, USdaily high max32.2 C (90.0 F)1.1 C (2.0 F)65 years28 of 100 (Routine)
    4 April 2026Washington Reagan Natl AP, USdaily high max (Tie)29.4 C (84.9 F)tie69 years7 of 100 (Routine)
    11 March 2026Washington Reagan Natl AP, USdaily high max30.0 C (86.0 F)3.9 C (7.0 F)4 years15 of 100 (Routine)

    Threshold Days in Washington, D.C.

    How many days a year reach a given temperature or amount of rain. The combined page lists every threshold.

    Download the Data

    • Data for Washington, D.C. standing records by year: CSV or JSON. Field meanings are on the data page.
    • Data for Washington, D.C. threshold days by year: CSV or JSON. Field meanings are on the data page.

    Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Global Historical Climatology Network Daily (GHCN-Daily). Records are computed by World Extreme Weather Monitor and are not official NOAA products. (US Government open data (NOAA NCEI)) Data as of 2026-10-12 (12 October 2026). The city record threads stations by a curated mapping and is not official.

    Data as of . Last revised (2026-10-12).