What is DC weather like?

[leyton]

I am moving to DC in two weeks for school and I am wondering about what type of clothes I need to make it through the winter. (I'm not really concerned about summer.)

FYI, I come from Charlotte, NC, a city that gets snow on the ground once a year and where you can get by in sneakers, a heavy coat, and maybe a scarf.

Thanks everyone!

[tk2kewl]

1. Hot and humid with daily shit storms

[YOY]

2. Bring a winter coat, warm gloves, and a hat that covers your ears.

Thermal underwear for extended periods outside. Remember that this town was built on a swamp so it rains alot. It snows a bit too...but is a mild winter compared to what I'm used to.

It snows...but seldom to the level that Buffalo or Montana get. Public transportation is usually warm and dry. Use it often.

Roads get nasty in the winter and of course I must send a special message to a southerner (with love): when it starts snowing...for the love of GOD don't slam on the brakes...pump them slowly until you come to a complete stop. And just because you drive a SUV doesn't make it hunky dorey to drive at top speed on snowcovered roads.

Just an obsevation from someone who was born and raised on the shores of lake Erie and living in DC!

[driver8]

5. Hi YOY!! I went to college near the shores of Lake Erie...Fredonia.

I lived in DC for awhile...it got pretty cold there a few times. I do remember if it snowed just a little bit, the city shut down.

[YOY]

6. at the drop of a hat I'd like to believe

So many Southerners (and I don't dislike Southerners mind you) panic like white death is falling from the sky the moment it starts snowing. Truly everything closes when it comes to State, District, and Federal. Us regular schmoes keep working. If only I could find a real job here!


I grew up in Cleveland (Kent State U.) but lived often in Chautauqua over the summers and winter vacation (grandfather's cottage...no palace by any stretch.) Love Buffalo. Great town...but like most of the lake cities (Detroit, Cleveland, Toledo), it has seen better days (sadly.)

[leyton]

7. Heheh - my hometown shuts down!

The forecasters mention snow and all the schoolchildren are sent home. (Charlotte, NC).

[Talismom]

3. Every once in a while there's a good snow. Mostly a few flurries.

The winters are generally pretty mild with a blizzard every few years. The main problem is that people drive like idiots when it does snow. Don't even slow down!
Really, I found the summer's endless heat and HUMIDITY to be the real killers! You can go months with no break in either--I mean all through the night and into the next day! I made the mistake of renting a room upstairs in an unairconditioned house one year. It almost killed me! Here in NYC you can, if you have to, do without AC. I would never do it again in DC!

[SharonRB]

4. It will definitely be colder than Charlotte, but not as cold

as it is up here in Michigan. My daughter went to school there and one year they had a 19" snowstorm. That's rare, but can happen. You'll need a warm coat, boots, gloves, etc. for the occasional cold, snowy winter days, as well as sweaters, etc. You should probably have a medium weight jacket also for the milder days of the winter. Layering is good.

Where are you going to school? My daughter went to AU.

[leyton]

8. Starting at Georgetown this fall.

I remember a lot of rain - both times I toured the campus. Looking forward to it though!

[northzax]

9. April and October

are fabulous. Get used to real fall.

Late January and Early february can get cold and raw, damp, freezing wind. July and August are saunas. everything else is perfectly passable.

[many a good man]

10. Mild Winters, steamy Summers

Gorgeous Fall and Spring.

Winters are full of cold rain and winds that cut straight to the bone; mostly between 35-45 degrees. Expect 0-3 snow events a year. 5-25 ice events, too, especially annoying if you drive.

Every day in the summer its Hazy Hot and Humid, mid-90s, chance of afternoon thunderstorms. Handful of code red days for air quality (or lack thereof).

You'll need hip-waders for the deep bullshit around Pennsylvania Ave.

[VADem11]

11. Winter

is cold. Bring a heavy jacket and some boots. Winter has occasional heavy snow (6-12 inches) and more frequent light snow but even 3 inches can paralyze the city and the Maryland/Virginia suburbs. A half inch of snow fell one day and there was chaos everywhere espcially here in NoVa. Fall and spring are pretty nice though with some occasional heat waves.