Washington DC - Lowest Temperature for Each Year

Here's where you'll find answers to your questions about the lowest temperatures and coldest days in Washington, DC, such as: When was the last time thermometers here dropped below 0 °F? How cold did Washington get in 2019?

The list below gives the lowest temperature for each year in Washington and the date that it happened. A date with a plus sign beside it means it got that cold on at least one other day earlier that year.

The temperature extremes were measured at Reagan National Airport near downtown Washington and go back to 1946. The lowest temperature recorded there during that period was -5 degrees Fahrenheit (-21 Celsius) on January 17, 1982.

Lowest Washington DC temperatures in recent years
Min °F Date Min °C
16 February 04, 2023   -9
9 December 24, 2022   -13
24 January 30, 2021 + -4
22 February 15, 2020   -6
10 January 31, 2019 -12
8 January 07, 2018 -13
15 January 08, 2017 -9
13 February 14, 2016 -11
5 February 20, 2015 -15
6 January 07, 2014 -14
15 January 23, 2013 -9
17 January 04, 2012 -8
17 January 24, 2011 + -8
16 February 07, 2010 + -9
Lowest temperature recorded at Washington DC each year
Min °F Date Min °C
8 January 17, 2009 -13
16 December 22, 2008 + -9
10 February 06, 2007 -12
14 February 19, 2006 -10
12 January 28, 2005 + -11
8 January 10, 2004 -13
11 January 18, 2003 -12
18 December 07, 2002 -8
20 January 03, 2001 -7
14 December 23, 2000 + -10
16 January 06, 1999 -9
18 January 01, 1998 -8
11 January 19, 1997 -12
5 February 05, 1996 -15
7 February 06, 1995 -14
-4 January 19, 1994 -20
11 February 19, 1993 -12
14 January 19, 1992 -10
17 February 16, 1991 -8
14 February 26, 1990 -10
5 December 22, 1989 -15
10 January 11, 1988 + -12
7 January 28, 1987 -14
12 January 28, 1986 -11
-4 January 21, 1985 -20
3 January 22, 1984 -16
3 December 25, 1983 -16
-5 January 17, 1982 -21
11 January 13, 1981 + -12
12 December 26, 1980 + -11
6 February 18, 1979 + -14
10 January 10, 1978 -12
2 January 17, 1977 -17
11 February 02, 1976 + -12
17 December 19, 1975 -8
18 February 10, 1974 -8
9 February 17, 1973 -13
3 January 16, 1972 -16
11 February 02, 1971 -12
4 January 09, 1970 -16
13 January 05, 1969 -11
7 January 12, 1968 -14
11 February 25, 1967 + -12
9 January 31, 1966 + -13
9 January 31, 1965 -13
7 January 15, 1964 -14
3 January 24, 1963 -16
9 January 11, 1962 -13
4 February 02, 1961 -16
10 December 23, 1960 -12
11 January 17, 1959 + -12
5 February 17, 1958 -15
8 January 18, 1957 -13
20 November 24, 1956 + -7
10 February 03, 1955 -12
13 January 23, 1954 -11
17 December 18, 1953 -8
15 January 30, 1952 -9
11 February 08, 1951 -12
15 December 27, 1950 + -9
21 December 17, 1949 + -6
5 January 26, 1948 -15
7 February 05, 1947 -14
11 January 28, 1946 -12
Reference

Jay Lawrimore. 2016. Global Summary of the Year, Version 1.0. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. 

Washington - Extremes
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