Washington, D.C. Climate and Average Weather
Climate of Washington, D.C.: average temperatures, rainfall and seasons month by month.
Climate in Washington, D.C. month by month
Average high, average low and total rainfall, based on three years of reanalysis data.
| Month | Avg high | Avg low | Rainfall | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 40° | 25° | 3,4 in | ★★☆☆☆ |
| February | 45° | 29° | 2,8 in | ★★☆☆☆ |
| March | 60° | 40° | 4,2 in | ★★★☆☆ |
| April | 69° | 49° | 3,3 in | ★★★★☆ |
| May | 74° | 57° | 6,6 in | ★★★☆☆ |
| June | 86° | 67° | 4,4 in | ★★★★☆ |
| July | 89° | 71° | 6,6 in | ★★★☆☆ |
| August | 84° | 67° | 3,5 in | ★★★★☆ |
| September | 79° | 62° | 4,2 in | ★★★★☆ |
| October | 69° | 50° | 1,7 in | ★★★★☆ |
| November | 57° | 40° | 2,5 in | ★★★☆☆ |
| December | 46° | 32° | 4,3 in | ★★☆☆☆ |
Climate type: Continental. Source: Open-Meteo archive (ERA5).
Recent extremes in Washington, D.C.
Highest and lowest readings observed in the last 3 years of reanalysis data - not all-time records.
How Washington, D.C. compares with nearby places
Annual averages, and the difference against Washington, D.C..
| Place | Distance | Avg temp | vs here | Annual rain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington Dulles International Airport | 23 mi | 57°F | about the same | 42 in |
| Maryland | 30 mi | 57°F | about the same | 50 in |
| Delaware | 83 mi | 57°F | about the same | 43 in |
| Pennsylvania | 95 mi | 55°F | 35°F cooler | 40 in |
| Virginia | 97 mi | 60°F | +34°F warmer | 39 in |
Climate by attraction in Washington, D.C.
1 attractions mapped in this atlas
Climate by airport in Washington, D.C.
1 airports mapped in this atlas
Climate by city in Washington, D.C.
1 cities mapped in this atlas
Climate by district in Washington, D.C.
2 districts and neighborhoods mapped in this atlas
Climate by zip / postal code in Washington, D.C.
1 zip and postal codes mapped in this atlas
Climate by area code in Washington, D.C.
1 area codes mapped in this atlas
Best time to visit Washington, D.C.
Go in April, June, August and October. These months score highest on comfortable temperatures, low rainfall and useful daylight.
Hardest months: January, February and December - expect the least comfortable mix of heat, cold or rain.
What this means for Washington, D.C.
Today is slightly cooler than average for August. The forecast high of 79°F is 5.4°F below the 84°F typical for this month.
A 41% chance means rain is likely somewhere nearby at some point - carry a layer, but do not cancel.
No weather-related travel disruption is expected today. Roads and airports should run normally.
Northern Hemisphere, so peak summer falls in June to August.
The gap between the warmest and coldest month averages 79°F.
What to pack, what to skip
- Lightweight, light-coloured clothing and a refillable water bottle
- Sunglasses, a brimmed hat and SPF 30+
- A packable rain shell - 4 of the next 7 days carry a real chance of rain
- If your dates are flexible, avoid January, February and December - historically the least comfortable months here.
Summary
Washington, D.C. is a state in United States. Washington, D.C. is a US state with its capital at Washington. It has a population of about 680.000. The capital is Washington.
Right now it is 73°F (23°C) in Washington, D.C. with overcast. It feels like 78°F. Today runs from 68°F to 79°F. Chance of precipitation is 41%. Sightseeing conditions score 8.8/10 - excellent - go now.
The best time to visit Washington, D.C. is April, June, August and October. The climate is continental. January, February and December tend to be the least comfortable months. July is the warmest month with average highs near 89°F, while January is the coldest with lows near 25°F.
The closest major airport is Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), about 4 mi away. Nearby highlights include National Mall, Shenandoah National Park, Statue of Liberty (UNESCO World Heritage Site) and Statue of Liberty.
In plain terms. Today is slightly cooler than average for August. The forecast high of 79°F is 5.4°F below the 84°F typical for this month. The best window to be outside is roughly 7 AM to 10 AM, when temperature, rain chance and wind line up best. fishing is the strongest bet in Washington, D.C. today at 9.7/10. No weather-related travel disruption is expected today. Roads and airports should run normally.
Compiled from this page's own data: atlas facts plus live Open-Meteo readings.
Quick facts about Washington, D.C.
| Type | State |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Continent | North America |
| Coordinates | 38°54′25.9″N 77°2′12.8″W (38.9072, -77.0369) |
| Capital | Washington |
| Population | 680.000 |
| Area | 68 sq mi |
| Abbreviation | DC |
| Time zone | America/New_York |
| Local time | 1:26 AM (UTC-04:00) |
| Best months | April, June, August and October |
| Climate | Continental |
Weather map for Washington, D.C.
Animated model layers. Pick a layer to load it.
Animated layers by Windy. For pin-level detail and nearby places, see the interactive map below.
Explore Washington, D.C.
Every topic we hold for this place, and the same topic for the places around it.
Climate for related places
Frequently asked questions
Where is Washington, D.C.?
Washington, D.C. is a state in United States. Its coordinates are 38.9072, -77.0369. It lies in North America.
What is the weather like in Washington, D.C. right now?
It is currently 73°F (23°C) with overcast. Humidity is 88% and wind is 3 mph.
When is the best time to visit Washington, D.C.?
April, June, August and October offer the most comfortable conditions in Washington, D.C., which has a continental climate. January, February and December are usually the hardest months for outdoor plans.
What time zone is Washington, D.C. in?
Washington, D.C. observes America/New_York (UTC-04:00). The local time is 1:26 AM.
How many people live in Washington, D.C.?
Washington, D.C. has a population of approximately 680.000.
What is the nearest airport to Washington, D.C.?
The closest airports are Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), 4 mi away, Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD), 23 mi away and Philadelphia International Airport (PHL), 117 mi away.
What are the top things to do in Washington, D.C.?
Popular options include National Mall, Shenandoah National Park, Statue of Liberty (UNESCO World Heritage Site), Statue of Liberty, Hudson River and Empire State Building.
What places are in Washington, D.C.?
Washington, D.C. covers 7 places in this atlas, including National Mall, Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Washington, Capitol Hill, Georgetown and ZIP Code 20001.
Related articles
Data sources and methodology
| Place data | USPOTUS Atlas dataset (us-states) - coordinates, hierarchy and facts. |
|---|---|
| Forecast and observations | Open-Meteo (ECMWF and national models). |
| Air quality and pollen | Copernicus CAMS via Open-Meteo. US AQI scale. |
| Climate averages | ERA5 reanalysis via the Open-Meteo archive, aggregated over 3 years. |
| Official alerts | US National Weather Service. |
| Method | Scores, comparisons and advice on this page are computed from the inputs above. Distances are straight-line. Nothing is estimated where data is missing - the block is simply not shown. |
Last updated August 23, 2026 at 1:26 AM local time. Live blocks refresh every 15 minutes; climate averages monthly.
