When was the last time Washington D.C. experienced such cold temperatures?

Tuesday morning was poised to be the coldest in over 30 years for Washington D.C., with a streak of five consecutive nights of single-digit lows not seen since 1899.

What caused the extreme cold in the D.C. region?

The extreme cold is attributed to a polar vortex, an area of upper-level pressure in southern Canada directing arctic air into the United States.

Is there a risk of more snow in Washington D.C. this weekend?

Yes, meteorologists are tracking another potential snow system for the upcoming weekend, with the possibility of significant snowfall if it tracks near the coastline.

Home / Weather / DC Braces for Coldest Morning in 30+ Years

DC Braces for Coldest Morning in 30+ Years

27 Jan

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Summary

Washington faces its coldest morning in over 30 years.
A significant snow event recently impacted the DC region.
Another chance of snow is forecasted for the upcoming weekend.

DC Braces for Coldest Morning in 30+ Years

The Washington D.C. metropolitan area is confronting an exceptionally severe cold snap, with Tuesday morning poised to be the coldest in over 30 years, possibly reaching 4°F. This intense cold is attributed to a polar vortex, bringing single-digit low temperatures expected to persist for five consecutive nights, a streak not seen since 1899. There's also a possibility of the temperature failing to break freezing for up to ten days, which would be the longest such period since December 1989.

This prolonged and intense cold differs from the recent snowfall of 6.9 inches, which was the fourth-largest in a decade for the city. That storm was driven by a large-scale overrunning of warm air over existing cold air. However, a potential storm for the upcoming weekend is being driven by different atmospheric dynamics. Meteorologists are closely monitoring models to determine if this new system will track closer to the coast, potentially delivering a significant snowfall, or be suppressed further offshore.