Washington, DC weather in February
Expect chilly weather with some rain and some snow in Washington in February, with highs near 48°F and lows near 32°F. Rain or snow falls on about 9 days. Snowfall averages about 5.0 in. It is one of the coldest months in Washington.
- Normal high
- 48°F
- Normal low
- 32°F
- Wet days
- 9
- 2.6 in total
- Snowfall
- 5.0 in
- snow on the ground 4 days
How February changes from start to finish
| February 1 | February 28 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 46°F | 52°F |
| Normal low | 30°F | 35°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 32% | 33% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 7:14 am / 5:29 pm | 6:41 am / 5:59 pm |
| Daylight | 10.3 h | 11.3 h |
Chance of a wet day: average for the first and last 7 days of the month. Times are local clock time (Eastern Time).
A typical February day
- 6 am35°Fdew point 25°F
- 9 am37°Fdew point 25°F
- Noon42°Fdew point 25°F
- 3 pm45°Fdew point 25°F
- 6 pm43°Fdew point 25°F
- 9 pm40°Fdew point 26°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Washington Reagan Airport (3 mi away); average wind 10 mph; clear or few clouds in 45% of daytime hours, mostly cloudy or overcast in 46%.
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F2 of 28
- Hot dayshigh 90°F or more0 of 28
- Muggy daysdaily mean dew point 65°F or more0 of 28
- Wet daysat least 0.01 in of rain or melted snow9 of 28
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in5 of 28
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below16 of 28
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more4 of 28
Average days per February, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain and snow in February
Normal precipitation is 2.6 in; a dry February brings about 1.7 in and a wet one about 3.5 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 2 days bring half an inch or more, and about 1 an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 5.0 in, with about 1 day of an inch or more.
How February varies from year to year
- Warmest February, 1991-20202017: average high 58°F
- Coolest February2007: average high 38°F
- Wettest February2003: 7.0 in
- Driest February2009: 0.3 in
- Highest reading82°F (February 21, 2018)
- Lowest reading5°F (February 20, 2015)
From the station's daily records with NOAA quality flags removed; most recent date shown when a reading repeats.
February compared with January and March
| January | February | March | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 45°F | 48°F | 57°F |
| Normal low | 30°F | 32°F | 39°F |
| Wet days | 10 | 9 | 11 |
| Comfortable days | 2 | 2 | 7 |
| Daylight | 9.8 h | 10.8 h | 12.0 h |
Highs change by +3°F from January and +9°F into March.
Nearby alternatives in February
- Warmer: Chesapeake, VA149 mi · high 53°F · 9 wet days
- Cooler: Frederick, MD41 mi · high 43°F · 10 wet days
How Washington ranks in February
- Normal high216th warmest of 378 cities
- Wet days228th driest of 378
- Comfortable days200th most of 340
What to pack for Washington in February
- A warm jacket – lows near 32°F, highs near 48°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain or snow on about 9 days
- Waterproof boots – about 5.0 in of snow in a typical year
- A hat and gloves – about 16 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
February has 699 heating degree days and 0 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 13% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is Washington in February?
The normal high is 48°F and the normal low is 32°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest February reading was 5°F (most recently on February 20, 2015).
Does it rain a lot in Washington in February?
About 9 days in February have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 2.6 in. The wettest February in 1991-2020 was in 2003 (7.0 in); the driest was in 2009 (0.4 in).
Does it snow in Washington in February?
Yes. Normal snowfall in February is 5.0 in, and snow covers the ground on about 4 days.
Is February a good time to visit Washington?
February ranks 10th of 12 months on our comfort score for Washington (42 out of 100). It has about 2 comfortable days. The best months are April, May and October.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, snowfall, snow depth, frost dates and humidity and wind by hour: Washington Reagan Airport (USW00013743), 3.2 mi S of the city center, 10 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Cloud cover: Camp Springs Andrews AFB (USW00013705), 11 mi ESE of the city center, 282 ft (258 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Ronald Reagan Washington Natl Airport (724050-13743), 3.3 mi S of the city center, 13 ft . Hourly observations, 1991-2020.