Global warming is nudging Washington's climate southward. This winter, it most resembles Atlanta's. [View all]

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Missing the snow and cold this winter? This is a sneak preview of what DC's winter climate may resemble later this century. Kids growing up in DC may retire in a climate more like today's in Atlanta.

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Capital Weather Gang • Analysis

Global warming is nudging Washington’s climate southward. This winter, it most resembles Atlanta’s.

Consider this winter a preview of the region’s future.

By Jason Samenow
February 12 at 2:10 PM

Since the winter solstice on Dec. 21, Washington’s weather has taken an excursion toward a far more southern clime. With an average high temperature of 54 degrees, the weather has best matched the typical winter conditions in Atlanta.

Because of human-induced climate warming, winters like this — characterized by a lack of extreme cold and spotty snowfall — may become the norm this century.

Multiple studies have projected that the climate of the Mid-Atlantic will turn more southern over the coming decades. This means shorter winters with far less bite. From a practical standpoint, you may find yourself needing heavy coats, scarves and hats far less, and hitting the golf links rather than the ski slopes.

This winter is merely a sneak preview; it is tied strongly to a weather pattern in the Arctic, which is preventing frigid air from escaping the northern latitudes, as well as to long-term climate change.

This year’s warmth in perspective



(Ian Livingston)

Mild weather has been eerily persistent this winter: Of the past 54 days, 45 have been milder than average. On a stretch from December into January, 17 days in a row were milder than normal. Through Wednesday, we have seen a streak of 20 consecutive mild days.

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Mild winter fits the trend

The mild temperatures this winter are consistent with a warming trend observed since the late 1800s. Washington’s average winter temperature has risen at a rate of about 3.4 degrees per century. The average winter temperature has risen from about 35 degrees in the late 1800s to 39 degrees today.



At the same time, average snowfall has declined from around 22 inches in the late 1800s to around 15 inches today.

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Ian Livingston contributed to this report.

Jason Samenow
Jason Samenow is The Washington Post’s weather editor and Capital Weather Gang's chief meteorologist. He earned a master's degree in atmospheric science and spent 10 years as a climate change science analyst for the U.S. government. He holds the Digital Seal of Approval from the National Weather Association. Follow https://twitter.com/capitalweather