Winter temperatures · District of Columbia
How cold does Washington, DC get in winter?
In a typical winter, December to February, Washington, DC averages highs around 47°F and lows around 32°F.
About 7 days a year never get above freezing. About one night a year drops to 10°F or colder, and none go below zero in a typical year. That makes it the 52nd mildest winter of the 129 US cities we track.
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The coldest low in the forecast for the next 48 hours is about 38°F.
Washington, DC, averages winter lows around 32°F, and a dusting of snow is still enough to shut half the city down.
Live 48-hour forecast from OpenWeatherMap, refreshed about every half hour. Alerts from the National Weather Service.
More about the weather here
Winter at a glance
| Average winter high | 47°F |
|---|---|
| Average winter low | 32°F |
| Days a year that stay below freezing | 7 |
| Nights a year at 32°F or colder | 60 |
| Nights a year at 10°F or colder | 1 |
| Nights a year below zero | none |
| Average summer high, for comparison | 88°F |
Winter here is December to February. Counts are averages a year.
Cities with about the same winter
- Amarillo, Texas: highs around 53°F, lows around 26°F
- Olympia, Washington: highs around 47°F, lows around 33°F
- Oklahoma City, Oklahoma: highs around 51°F, lows around 29°F
Source: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991 to 2020, station USW00013743.