Washington, D.C. experienced a dramatic temperature swing from 21 degrees on Monday to a record-breaking 80 degrees Fahrenheit on Thursday, marking a 50-degree increase. This new record surpasses the previous high of 79 degrees set in January 1950, which was already 10°F above average. The typical high for January, which is 2° warmer than during the WWII era, averages 45 degrees. Reagan National Airport and Washington-Dulles International Airport both set all-time high temperatures for January, with Reagan reaching 80 degrees, the earliest occurrence of such warmth by three weeks since February 21, 2018, and Dulles hitting 79 degrees, 4 degrees higher than its previous record. The region also saw dozens of daily records broken. This unprecedented warmth, including the first-ever 80°F reading in the DC area for January or December, comes just one week after the city received 3 to 5 inches of snow. The warm winter days have become more frequent in recent decades and are attributed to climate change. Similar temperature milestones were observed across North America.
Can you believe it hit 80° in Washington D.C. today? The last time we were this warm in January was in 1950! https://t.co/SsPJ2DRCr8
Washington, D.C. set an all-time January high temperature record today of 80°F, similar milestones were met across North America. https://t.co/00ZXagkN7a
All-time warmest January temperature of 79° at Washington-Dulles Int’l Airport today was made twice as likely by climate change. #dcwx https://t.co/VBj35CDB1i
Today's high temps (1/26): Reagan National Airport: 80 (January record) Dulles: 79 (Jan. record) BWI Marshall: 78 (1 shy of Jan. record) These are 35 degrees above normal + warmest in the nation outside S. Florida and parts of Carolinas. Read more: https://t.co/tm2ybW9biV
Washington DC at Reagan hit 80°F for the first time ever in January. The previous record of 79°F stood for almost 75 years. January of 1950 was very balmy across the eastern US: 10°F above average. https://t.co/ZebrzFlOwx
Washington's Reagan and Dulles Airports have set their warmest January temps on record! Reagan: 80° Dulles: 79° This is the earliest 80° by 3 weeks at Reagan (2/21/2018) and tops the previous January #record at Dulles by 4°. #WashingtonDC https://t.co/33tx7TcNOA
Washington's Reagan and Dulles Airports have set their warmest January temps on record! Reagan: 80° Dulles: 79° This is the earliest 80° by 3 weeks at Reagan (2/21/2018) and tops the previous January record at Dulles by 4°.
Noting: Until today, the previous earliest 80-degree temperature in Washington occurred Feb. 21, 2018. In an average year, Washington doesn’t post its first 80-degree high until March 28.
SHOCK temperature spike: DC hits 80F, new record for month of January, surpassing 79 in 1950. This comes exactly one week after 3 to 5" of snow. Warm winter days like this have become MUCH more frequent in recent decades due to climate change. Details ⬇️ https://t.co/tm2ybW9biV
Currently 81° in Washington DC. This would be an all time January high temp record. It’s also currently 81° in Miami. https://t.co/P83vivwvtv
Washington, DC soared to 80 degrees today, the highest temperature observed in January since records began in 1872. https://t.co/qm6QVhG1fu
It's official! 🌡️ Washington, D.C. has set a new all-time high temperature for January, at 80 degrees! The previous record was 79 set in 1950. Wow! @7NewsDC https://t.co/LYdDuswTQD
BREAKING: As of 1:20 p.m. ET, Washington D.C. reported a temperature of 81° — in January. Note: this may be partially a rounding artifact, but it’s at least 80°. This is the WARMEST JANUARY DAY on record at DCA. Previous record: 79°, 1/26/1950. Average is 45°. #climate https://t.co/zyMQGAoiRQ
70a and 80s in January, the record heat continues today in the Carolinas. #cltwx #ncwx #scwx #wcnc https://t.co/ahtnduHTn8
There it is. The first-ever 80°F reading anywhere in the DC area in either January or December. Record-smashing, unbelievable warmth https://t.co/temcBbFNYW
Very mild minimum temperatures yesterday across the region yielded dozens on daily records and a few January record warm min. T values.. https://t.co/QiDAfhzjL6 @NWSRaleigh @NWSWakefieldVA @NOAANCEI #CLIMPER @JenCarfagno @GregPostel https://t.co/OidnFkkZUP
We hit 21 degrees on Monday morning. Now we’ll be FIFTY degrees warmer — a high of 72° in D.C. today! In January! 🌡 Typical high averages 45°. January is 2° warmer than it was in the WWII era. Interestingly, during January 1950, we hit 70° some six times! https://t.co/RO5wYyH4hp
We hit 21 degrees on Monday morning. Now we’ll be FIFTY degrees warmer — a high of 72° in D.C. today! In January! 🌡 Typical high averages 45°. January is 2° warmer than it was in the WWII era. During January 1950, we hit 70° some six times! https://t.co/VZBaxYkLVP