Our verdict
The best time to visit Washington D.C. is April-July
In the summer months, temperatures can reach as high as 32℃ (90℉) in Washington D.C.. The weather at night in the winter, which is around December-time, can get down to a minimum of -7℃ (19℉).
The sun stays up the longest in Washington D.C. in July, so you’ll get the most out of your daytime activities if you visit around this time. On average it rains the most days in January, making it the wettest month of the year. Although it’s the wet season, it can often rain a little bit during the day or evening but have fine weather for a majority of the day too, so don’t let this put you off.
Learn everything you need to know (and none of the stuff you don’t) about when to go to Washington D.C. below. Be sure to check out the handy tools we’ve included to help you search for flights and transport, accommodation, and everything else you need to plan and book your trip.
Quick links: Fast facts / Seasons / Average temperatures / Monthly climate / FAQs / Map
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Washington D.C. seasons
Before you continue, it’s important to know when the seasons are in Washington D.C. as they might be different to yours depending on where in the world you’re travelling from. Washington D.C. is in the Northern Hemisphere, so the seasons fall during these months:
| Season | Months |
|---|---|
| Summer | June to August |
| Autumn/fall | September to November |
| Winter | December to February |
| Spring | March to May |
Average temperatures in Washington D.C.
If the temperature is a big factor for you to help you decide when to visit, the chart below shows the average minimum and maximum temperatures in Washington D.C. for each month side-by-side so you can easily see the difference in weather throughout the year. To see the temperatures in both Celsius (°C) and Fahrenheit (°F), hover or tap the shaded boxes on the graph.
Washington D.C. climate by month
If you already have a rough idea about which months you might want to travel, the section below shows a detailed breakdown of the climate in Washington D.C. for each month so you can see if it all suits your wants and needs. Scroll down, or use the quick menu below to jump to your preferred month.
Jump to:
Washington D.C. in January
- Average temperature: -0℃ (31℉)
- Average high temperature: 3℃ (38℉)
- Average low temperature: -3℃ (27℉)
- Average humidity: 81%
- Average sunny days: 17 days
- Average rainfall: 22mm (1") over 10 days
- Average snow days: 5 days
of pure sunshine
of showers or rain
What to pack: If you’re heading to Washington D.C. in January, make sure you pack a thick snow/winter jacket, thermals and some extra layers as it's always very cold.
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Washington D.C. in February
- Average temperature: 2℃ (35℉)
- Average high temperature: 5℃ (42℉)
- Average low temperature: -2℃ (29℉)
- Average humidity: 76%
- Average sunny days: 16 days
- Average rainfall: 15mm (1") over 8 days
- Average snow days: 4 days
of pure sunshine
of showers or rain
What to pack: If you’re heading to Washington D.C. in February, make sure you pack a thick snow/winter jacket, thermals and some extra layers as it's always very cold.
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Washington D.C. in March
- Average temperature: 6℃ (42℉)
- Average high temperature: 10℃ (50℉)
- Average low temperature: 1℃ (35℉)
- Average humidity: 67%
- Average sunny days: 16 days
- Average rainfall: 16mm (1") over 11 days
- Average snow days: 2 days
of pure sunshine
of showers or rain
What to pack: If you’re heading to Washington D.C. in March, make sure you pack a thick snow/winter jacket, thermals and some extra layers as it's always very cold.
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Washington D.C. in April
- Average temperature: 10℃ (50℉)
- Average high temperature: 15℃ (59℉)
- Average low temperature: 4℃ (40℉)
- Average humidity: 57%
- Average sunny days: 19 days
- Average rainfall: 8mm (0") over 8 days
of pure sunshine
of showers or rain
What to pack: If you’re heading to Washington D.C. in April, make sure you pack a thick snow/winter jacket, thermals and some extra layers as it's always very cold.
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Washington D.C. in May
- Average temperature: 15℃ (59℉)
- Average high temperature: 21℃ (69℉)
- Average low temperature: 9℃ (48℉)
- Average humidity: 51%
- Average sunny days: 21 days
- Average rainfall: 16mm (1") over 7 days
of pure sunshine
of showers or rain
What to pack: If you’re heading to Washington D.C. in May, make sure you pack a coat or jumper for the evenings and some light clothes for the daytime.
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Washington D.C. in June
- Average temperature: 18℃ (65℉)
- Average high temperature: 25℃ (76℉)
- Average low temperature: 11℃ (52℉)
- Average humidity: 47%
- Average sunny days: 23 days
- Average rainfall: 6mm (0") over 4 days
of pure sunshine
of showers or rain
What to pack: If you’re heading to Washington D.C. in June, make sure you pack a coat or jumper for the evenings, and t-shirts and light gear for the daytime.
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Washington D.C. in July
- Average temperature: 23℃ (73℉)
- Average high temperature: 30℃ (86℉)
- Average low temperature: 15℃ (59℉)
- Average humidity: 40%
- Average sunny days: 27 days
- Average rainfall: 2mm (0") over 2 days
of pure sunshine
of showers or rain
What to pack: If you’re heading to Washington D.C. in July, make sure you pack t-shirts for the daytime and maybe a light jumper for the evenings as it cools down a bit.
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Washington D.C. in August
- Average temperature: 23℃ (73℉)
- Average high temperature: 30℃ (86℉)
- Average low temperature: 16℃ (60℉)
- Average humidity: 40%
- Average sunny days: 27 days
- Average rainfall: 5mm (0") over 2 days
of pure sunshine
of showers or rain
What to pack: If you’re heading to Washington D.C. in August, make sure you pack t-shirts for the daytime and maybe a light jumper for the evenings as it cools down a bit.
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Washington D.C. in September
- Average temperature: 18℃ (63℉)
- Average high temperature: 24℃ (75℉)
- Average low temperature: 12℃ (53℉)
- Average humidity: 48%
- Average sunny days: 24 days
- Average rainfall: 6mm (0") over 4 days
of pure sunshine
of showers or rain
What to pack: If you’re heading to Washington D.C. in September, make sure you pack a coat or jumper for the evenings, and t-shirts and light gear for the daytime.
Washington D.C. in October
- Average temperature: 11℃ (51℉)
- Average high temperature: 16℃ (60℉)
- Average low temperature: 6℃ (43℉)
- Average humidity: 60%
- Average sunny days: 20 days
- Average rainfall: 11mm (0") over 8 days
of pure sunshine
of showers or rain
What to pack: If you’re heading to Washington D.C. in October, make sure you pack a warm jacket or coat.
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Washington D.C. in November
- Average temperature: 4℃ (39℉)
- Average high temperature: 8℃ (47℉)
- Average low temperature: 1℃ (33℉)
- Average humidity: 71%
- Average sunny days: 18 days
- Average rainfall: 11mm (0") over 9 days
- Average snow days: 2 days
of pure sunshine
of showers or rain
What to pack: If you’re heading to Washington D.C. in November, make sure you pack a thick snow/winter jacket, thermals and some extra layers as it's always very cold.
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Washington D.C. in December
- Average temperature: -1℃ (30℉)
- Average high temperature: 3℃ (37℉)
- Average low temperature: -4℃ (25℉)
- Average humidity: 80%
- Average sunny days: 17 days
- Average rainfall: 21mm (1") over 9 days
- Average snow days: 5 days
of pure sunshine
of showers or rain
What to pack: If you’re heading to Washington D.C. in December, make sure you pack a thick snow/winter jacket, thermals and some extra layers as it's always very cold.
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