Washington, DC Climate & Monthly Averages
Washington has a humid subtropical climate. July is the hottest month, averaging 88° by day; January is the coldest at 44°.
Washington's climate is a story of contrasts
Washington runs one of the wider annual swings in our dataset: 24°C separates the average July from the average January. Afternoons reach 88°F (31°C) at the peak of summer and 44°F (6°C) at the depth of winter, with 132 days of measurable precipitation through the year.
July
88° by day 70° at nightJanuary
44° by day 28° at nightThe two ends of the year
Snow falls on roughly 7 days a year, mostly January through March. January bottoms out at 44°F (6°C) in daylight, 28°F (-2°C) after dark. At its warmest, in July, Washington runs to 88°F (31°C) in the afternoon and back to 70°F (21°C) by dawn. Between the average July and the average January lie 24°C, a wider spread than roughly 79% of the cities we track.
Three of the twelve months pair mild highs with fewer than twelve wet days; the longest unbroken run is September through October. July is the wettest month at 6.9 inches (176 mm) over 14 days; November is the driest. Across the gridded 2015-2024 daily record, the highest daily maximum for this location was 101°F (38°C) and the lowest daily minimum -7°F (-21°C).
More climate facts for Washington
- Hottest month: July - highs near 88°F (31°C)
- Coldest month: January - highs near 44°F (6°C)
- Decade extremes (2015-2024): 101°F (38°C) high · -7°F (-21°C) low
- Wettest month: July (14 rainy days) · Sunniest: July (11.7 h sun/day)
- Climate type: humid subtropical
- Annual swing: 24°C between the average warmest and coolest month · day to night: 10°C
- Snow: about 7 days a year
- Months averaging 30°C or hotter: 1
- Average humidity: 70%
Four distinct parts of the year in Washington
Spring (March through May)
Through spring, Washington runs cool rather than cold: 65°F (19°C) by day, 46°F (8°C) after dark, and rain falls on around 34 of the 90 days.
Summer (June through August)
Summer in Washington is hot, with daytime highs averaging 86°F (30°C) and nights around 68°F (20°C); rain falls on around 41 of the 90 days. Daylight is generous - around 11.3 hours of sun a day. With the moisture factored in, afternoons feel hotter than the reading suggests - the humidity and dew point converter shows why.
Fall (September through November)
Fall is pleasantly warm here - highs near 68°F (20°C), nights near 52°F (11°C), and expect showers on roughly 28 days across the season.
Winter (December through February)
Winter in Washington is chilly, with daytime highs averaging 47°F (8°C) and nights around 31°F (-1°C); expect showers on roughly 29 days across the season, plus about 5 snowy days.
Washington temperature extremes in the 2015–2024 dataset
Derived from ERA5 reanalysis data, 2015–2024. Official station records may differ. Need another precipitation unit? Use the rainfall converter.
Choosing a season in Washington
Best time to visit Washington
September to November and April is the sweet spot for Washington - warm days, manageable rainfall and plenty of daylight line up. Expect 68°F (20°C) in the afternoon and around 10 days of rain in a typical month of it. For the same question asked the other way round, see where else is warm in September.
What to pack
Pack for Washington with light clothing for the warm months, a warm jacket and layers for the cooler season and a compact umbrella or rain shell. Even in July, lows of 70°F (21°C) make an extra layer worth the space.
Monthly highs, lows and seasonal change
| Month | High | Low | Rain days | Precipitation | Sunshine | Daylight | Wet-day chance | Humidity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 44° | 28° | 9 | 3.3 in | 6.1 h/day | 9.7 h | 30% | 68% |
| February | 48° | 31° | 10 | 3.3 in | 7.0 h/day | 10.7 h | 36% | 66% |
| March | 56° | 36° | 10 | 3.7 in | 8.0 h/day | 11.8 h | 33% | 64% |
| April | 66° | 46° | 11 | 3.7 in | 9.2 h/day | 13.2 h | 38% | 64% |
| May | 75° | 56° | 13 | 5.1 in | 9.7 h/day | 14.3 h | 42% | 71% |
| June | 84° | 65° | 13 | 5.0 in | 11.5 h/day | 14.9 h | 43% | 69% |
| July | 88° | 70° | 14 | 6.9 in | 11.7 h/day | 14.6 h | 46% | 72% |
| August | 85° | 69° | 14 | 6.2 in | 10.8 h/day | 13.7 h | 45% | 75% |
| September | 80° | 63° | 11 | 5.1 in | 8.8 h/day | 12.4 h | 36% | 74% |
| October | 69° | 52° | 9 | 3.6 in | 8.0 h/day | 11.1 h | 28% | 74% |
| November | 57° | 40° | 8 | 3.3 in | 7.6 h/day | 10.0 h | 26% | 69% |
| December | 49° | 34° | 10 | 4.1 in | 6.0 h/day | 9.5 h | 31% | 72% |
Washington from the coldest month to the hottest
Each card shows the average high and low. The bar places that month between Washington's coldest night and warmest afternoon.
January
- Rain
- 9 days
- Sunshine
- 6.1 h
- Daylight
- 9.7 h
- Snow
- 3 days
February
- Rain
- 10 days
- Sunshine
- 7.0 h
- Daylight
- 10.7 h
- Snow
- 2 days
March
- Rain
- 10 days
- Sunshine
- 8.0 h
- Daylight
- 11.8 h
- Snow
- 1 day
April
- Rain
- 11 days
- Sunshine
- 9.2 h
- Daylight
- 13.2 h
May
- Rain
- 13 days
- Sunshine
- 9.7 h
- Daylight
- 14.3 h
June
- Rain
- 13 days
- Sunshine
- 11.5 h
- Daylight
- 14.9 h
July
- Rain
- 14 days
- Sunshine
- 11.7 h
- Daylight
- 14.6 h
August
- Rain
- 14 days
- Sunshine
- 10.8 h
- Daylight
- 13.7 h
September
- Rain
- 11 days
- Sunshine
- 8.8 h
- Daylight
- 12.4 h
October
- Rain
- 9 days
- Sunshine
- 8.0 h
- Daylight
- 11.1 h
November
- Rain
- 8 days
- Sunshine
- 7.6 h
- Daylight
- 10.0 h
December
- Rain
- 10 days
- Sunshine
- 6.0 h
- Daylight
- 9.5 h
Looking for warmer alternatives? Browse warm places by month, or compare Washington's coolest part of the year: January, February, December.
Where Washington sits among other climates
- Washington sits close to the middle of our dataset on most measures: 57°F (14°C) as an annual average, 53.4 inches (1358 mm) of precipitation and 8.7 hours of sun a day.
These comparisons use the same ten-year window for every city in the dataset.