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Climate in Washington, DC: Monthly Weather Averages

By the AverageClimate Editorial Team · Last updated: October 2026

Washington sits at 10 feet above sea level, and its climate, as recorded at the Washington Reagan Airport, DC station, runs to a yearly mean of 59.3°F. The warmest month is July, averaging 81.0°F with typical highs of 89.6°F; the coldest is January, averaging 37.5°F with lows around 30.1°F. Across a normal year the city receives 41.8 in of precipitation and 13.7 in of snow. The full month-by-month picture below comes from the official 1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals — the 30-year averages the National Weather Service itself uses — so it describes the Washington climate you should actually plan around, whether you are timing a visit, weighing a move, or just settling an argument about which month is best.

Washington climate month by month

The table below is the complete 1991–2020 normals profile for Washington: average high, average low and mean temperature, rainfall, and snowfall for every month. Read down the Mean column to feel the year's rhythm — Washington's temperature range runs from 37.5°F in January to 81.0°F in July.

How to read the colors:below freezingcoldcoolmildwarmhot. Bands are colored by each cell's own temperature, so a whole year reads at a glance.

Washington through the seasons

Winter in Washington averages highs of 44.8–48.8°F and lows of 30.1–34.5°F, a seasonal mean of 39.7°F. The three months together bring 8.9 in of precipitation — about 21% of the city's yearly total — with December the wettest of the three at 3.41 in. Snowfall averages 11.6 in over the season, most of it in February (5.0 in). It is a genuinely cold season — heavy coats, freezing nights, and the year's most changeable weather — without being locked below freezing around the clock.

Spring in Washington averages highs of 56.5–76.5°F and lows of 38.6–58.0°F, a seasonal mean of 57.7°F. The three months together bring 10.7 in of precipitation — about 25% of the city's yearly total — with May the wettest of the three at 3.94 in. Snowfall averages 2.0 in over the season, most of it in March (2.0 in). The season is a transition: the average temperature climbs 19.6°F from March to May, and by late spring Washington is firmly into warm territory, with May rainfall of 3.94 in to plan around.

Summer in Washington averages highs of 85.1–89.6°F and lows of 67.5–72.4°F, a seasonal mean of 78.9°F. The three months together bring 11.8 in of precipitation — about 28% of the city's yearly total — with July the wettest of the three at 4.33 in. It is a warm, usable summer: afternoons are hot enough for swimming and lake or coast time, while evenings usually cool off comfortably.

Fall in Washington averages highs of 58.2–80.7°F and lows of 41.6–64.1°F, a seasonal mean of 61.0°F. The three months together bring 10.5 in of precipitation — about 25% of the city's yearly total — with September the wettest of the three at 3.93 in. Snowfall averages 0.1 in over the season, most of it in November (0.1 in). Temperatures ease off through the season — the monthly mean drops 22.5°F from September to November — and fall is when Washington's weather turns cooler and wetter, while nights stay mostly frost-free into December.

Best and worst months to visit Washington

Ranking every month by its normals — mild mean temperatures score best, heavy rain and snow count against — the most comfortable months to visit Washington are:

MayJuneSeptember

May leads the list: average highs of 76.5°F, lows of 58.0°F, and 3.94 in of rain, with snow a non-factor at 0.0 in. The other picks, June and September, offer the same balance in Washington's shoulder seasons. At the other end, January is usually the month to avoid — the least comfortable mix of temperature and rainfall, with a mean temperature of 37.5°F and 2.86 in of precipitation plus 4.9 in of snow.

How Washington compares

Across the 114 cities in our dataset, the typical city averages 57.8°F for the year and 35.7 in of precipitation. Washington runs 1.5°F warmer than that typical city and wetter by 6.2 in a year, ranking #46 of 114 for annual warmth and #42 of 114 for precipitation (wettest first). Its year-round temperature swing — warmest month minus coldest — is 43.5°F, which puts it in the moderate, clearly seasonal camp.

Planning notes for Washington

For anyone relocating: average overnight lows drop below freezing in 2 months (January, February), so heating, winter tires, and pipe protection are real seasonal concerns; highs reach the 80s on average in 4 months, but 90°F average highs never arrive; 6 months of the year average between 55°F and 80°F, the band most people find comfortable without heating or cooling. Those four facts, all straight from the normals table above, shape everything from a Washington wardrobe to its utility bills.

Washington climate FAQ

Source: 1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals, NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) — ncei.noaa.gov. Station: Washington Reagan Airport, DC (USW00013743), elevation 10 ft. Figures checked October 2026.