Climate in Washington DC — Annual Weather Overview
Washington DC has a continental climate — hot summers, cold winters and moderate rainfall. The hottest month is July (average high 31.7°C) and the coolest is January (7.4°C). The seasons are strongly defined — a 24.3°C swing between July highs and January lows. Annual rainfall totals around 1464mm. August is the wettest month at 223.4mm, while January averages just 78.2mm. Average daily sunshine is 8.7 hours.
**Spring (March, April, May):** average highs 18.7°C, 288mm rain. **Summer (June, July, August):** average highs 30.1°C, 530mm rain. **Autumn (September, October, November):** average highs 20.1°C, 346mm rain. **Winter (December, January, February):** average highs 8.8°C, 300mm rain.
Washington DC — Monthly Temperatures
Washington DC — Monthly Rainfall
✅ Best months to visit
All year
ℹ️ No months to avoid
Weather in Washington DC stays reasonable all year.
Washington DC weather by month
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Sun/day | Rainy days | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7.4°C | -1.0°C | 78.2mm | 6.0h | 8 | 10/10 |
| February | 9.5°C | -0.1°C | 97.1mm | 6.5h | 11 | 10/10 |
| March | 14.4°C | 3.5°C | 80.8mm | 7.8h | 9 | 10/10 |
| April | 18.7°C | 7.3°C | 108.8mm | 9.3h | 12 | 9/10 |
| May | 22.9°C | 11.8°C | 98.4mm | 10.0h | 10 | 10/10 |
| June | 28.7°C | 17.7°C | 137.4mm | 11.4h | 12 | 9/10 |
| July | 31.7°C | 21.4°C | 169.2mm | 12.1h | 15 | 9/10 |
| August | 29.8°C | 20.6°C | 223.4mm | 10.5h | 16 | 8/10 |
| September | 25.8°C | 16.3°C | 137.7mm | 9.1h | 10 | 9/10 |
| October | 20.4°C | 10.8°C | 113.1mm | 7.8h | 9 | 9/10 |
| November | 14.1°C | 4.4°C | 95.5mm | 8.0h | 7 | 10/10 |
| December | 9.5°C | 0.8°C | 124.5mm | 6.1h | 8 | 9/10 |
For the full verdict on when to go, see the best time to visit Washington DC. Seasonal breakdowns: spring, summer, autumn and winter.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What type of climate does Washington DC have?
Washington DC has a continental climate — hot summers, cold winters and moderate rainfall. Average highs range from 7.4°C in January to 31.7°C in July.
What is the hottest month in Washington DC?
July is the hottest month in Washington DC, with average highs of 31.7°C and lows of 21.4°C.
What is the coldest month in Washington DC?
January is the coolest month, with average highs of 7.4°C and lows of -1.0°C.
What is the wettest month in Washington DC?
August is the wettest month, averaging 223.4mm of rainfall over around 16 rainy days.
How much rain does Washington DC get per year?
Washington DC receives around 1464mm of rain per year. The driest month is January (78.2mm).
When is the best time to visit Washington DC?
The best time to visit Washington DC is All year. See the full month-by-month guide →
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Trip essentials for Washington DC
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Climate data sourced from Open-Meteo (open source, open data licence). Monthly averages calculated from 2020–2023 historical data. Weather can be unpredictable — always check a live forecast before travelling.