Winter
Dec → Feb7 to 9°
nights -1 to 1°
- 7 rainy days · 76 mm
When is the best time to visit Washington, D.C.?
- Jan7°not recommended
- Feb9°not recommended
- Mar14°fair
- Apr20°recommended
- May25°recommended
- Jun30°fair
- Jul32°not recommended
- Aug31°fair
- Sep27°recommended
- Oct21°recommended
- Nov15°fair
- Dec9°not recommended
RecommendedFairNot recommended· afternoon temperature
The weather in Washington, D.C., month by month
The table of averages, month by month
| Month | High | Low | Rainfall | Rainy days | Best |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7° | -1° | 73 mm | 7 d | |
| February | 9° | 0° | 67 mm | 7 d | |
| March | 14° | 4° | 89 mm | 8 d | |
| April | 20° | 9° | 82 mm | 8 d | ✓ |
| May | 25° | 14° | 100 mm | 9 d | ✓ |
| June | 30° | 20° | 107 mm | 8 d | |
| July | 32° | 22° | 110 mm | 8 d | |
| August | 31° | 22° | 83 mm | 7 d | |
| September | 27° | 18° | 100 mm | 7 d | ✓ |
| October | 21° | 11° | 93 mm | 6 d | ✓ |
| November | 15° | 5° | 74 mm | 6 d | |
| December | 9° | 1° | 87 mm | 8 d |
The four seasons in Washington, D.C., in figures
What the 2015-2024 averages (Washington Reagan Airport) show, season by season, to compare at a glance instead of reading twelve rows of a table.
Spring
Mar → May14 to 25°
nights 4 to 14°
- 8 rainy days · 90 mm
Summer
Jun → Aug30 to 32°
nights 20 to 22°
- 8 rainy days · 100 mm
Autumn
Sep → Nov15 to 27°
nights 5 to 18°
- 6 rainy days · 89 mm
Book early for April to May and September to October
The timing is right, so it is right for everyone: in these months the best places to stay and the small-group tours go first. Here is where to start.
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Daylight in Washington, D.C., month by month
The time between sunrise and sunset, from shortest to longest. Not to be confused with the sunshine hours in the table above, which count clear skies. In June there are 14h52 of daylight, in December 9h27, a difference of 5h25.
9h44Jan
10h41Feb
11h50Mar
13h10Apr
14h17May
14h52Jun
14h38Jul
13h40Aug
12h23Sep
11h06Oct
10hNov
9h27Dec
Calculated for the latitude of the reference point "Washington Reagan Airport" (38.85°). Values on the 15th of each month, local solar time.
What to do in Washington, D.C., month by month
What to see and do
| Activity | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sightseeing & walks | ||||||||||||
| Long days |
favourablewith compromisesunfavourable
- Sightseeing & walks: February, March, April, May, June, August, September, October, November, December
- Long days: May, June, July
Grid derived from the climate averages (temperature, rainfall), not from an opinion.
Travelling off-peak
Month by month, in detail
January
Not recommended7°-1° at night
- 73 mm · 7 d
Low season, lower prices
February
Not recommended9°0° at night
- 67 mm · 7 d
Low season, lower prices
March
Fair14°4° at night
- 89 mm · 8 d
Low season, lower prices
April
Recommended20°9° at night
- 82 mm · 8 d
Busy, without the crush
May
Recommended25°14° at night
- 100 mm · 9 d
Busy, without the crush
June
Fair30°20° at night
- 107 mm · 8 d
Low season, lower prices
July
Not recommended32°22° at night
- 110 mm · 8 d
Low season, lower prices
August
Fair31°22° at night
- 83 mm · 7 d
Busy, without the crush
September
Recommended27°18° at night
- 100 mm · 7 d
Busy, without the crush
October
Recommended21°11° at night
- 93 mm · 6 d
Busy, without the crush
November
Fair15°5° at night
- 74 mm · 6 d
Low season, lower prices
December
Not recommended9°1° at night
- 87 mm · 8 d
Quiet, then the holidays
Read the twelve months in detail
January. Deep winter: 7 °C at the warmest of the day, -1 °C at night. Rain stays light: 73 mm over 7 days. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
February. Cool: 9 °C at best, 0 °C at night. Rain stays light: 67 mm over 7 days. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
March. Cool: 14 °C at best, 4 °C at night. Expect 8 days of rain in the month (89 mm). Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
April. Mild, 20 °C in the afternoon and 9 °C early in the morning. Expect 8 days of rain in the month (82 mm). Busy season, without the crush.
May. 25 °C in the afternoon and 14 °C at night. Expect 9 days of rain in the month (100 mm). Busy season, without the crush.
June. 30 °C in the afternoon and 20 °C at night. Expect 8 days of rain in the month (107 mm). Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
July. Real heat: 32 °C at the warmest of the day, 22 °C at night. Expect 8 days of rain in the month (110 mm). Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
August. 31 °C in the afternoon and 22 °C at night. Rain stays light: 83 mm over 7 days. Busy season, without the crush.
September. 27 °C in the afternoon and 18 °C at night. Rain stays light: 100 mm over 7 days. Busy season, without the crush.
October. Mild, 21 °C in the afternoon and 11 °C early in the morning. Rain stays light: 93 mm over 6 days. Busy season, without the crush.
November. Cool: 15 °C at best, 5 °C at night. Rain stays light: 74 mm over 6 days. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
December. Cool: 9 °C at best, 1 °C at night. Expect 8 days of rain in the month (87 mm). Quiet at the start of the month, then busier as the holidays approach.
Same season, other ideas
Their best time overlaps with this one: worth comparing before you book.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit Washington, D.C.?
April to May and September to October: over these months, average highs range from 20 to 27 °C, with 8 days of rain a month on average (2015-2024 averages, Washington Reagan Airport).
Which month should you avoid in Washington, D.C.?
July: it is the wettest of the months to avoid, with 110 mm over 8 days of rain on average over 2015-2024 at the reference point (Washington Reagan Airport).
What is the hottest month in Washington, D.C.?
July, with 32 °C on average in the afternoon and 22 °C at night. 2015-2024 averages (Washington Reagan Airport).
What is the coldest month in Washington, D.C.?
January, with 7 °C at best during the day and -1 °C at night. 2015-2024 averages (Washington Reagan Airport).
What is the driest month in Washington, D.C.?
February: 67 mm over 7 days of rain, against 110 mm in July, the wettest month.
Plan this trip
📒 The free printable Washington, D.C. guide: itinerary, map, where to sleep→
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🗓️ Best time to visit: all our destinations→
Compare with other destinations
Photos: G. Edward Johnson / CC BY 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons) · Beethoven / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons) · APK / CC BY 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons) · U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Andy Dunaway / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons) · Michael Barera / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons) · Thomas R Machnitzki / CC BY 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons) · Renan Bomtempo / Pexels · DiscoA340 / CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons) · AgnosticPreachersKid / CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)