Will DC’s Halloween forecast feature tricks or treats ?

WASHINGTON — Following D.C.’s recent stretch of September-like warmth, temperatures will start to feel more like November on Halloween. That may lead some to wonder what Halloween weather has historically been like in the nation’s capital.

While D.C.’s average high and low temperatures on October 31 are 64°/46°, respectively, there is a wide variation in Halloween weather from one year to the next. D.C.’s record high is 85° set in 1950. Meanwhile, D.C.’s record low is 26° and last occurred in 1917. The nation’s capital has had measurable rainfall on only four Halloweens since 2000; in 2022, 2019, 2009 and 2002, according to NOAA records.

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The warmest Halloween in recent times was in 2019, when the high/low temperatures were 77°/53° at National Airport. D.C.’s chilliest Halloween in recent years occurred in 2020, with high/low temperatures of only 51°/41°. The WUSA9 Weather Team is forecasting highs in the low 50s tomorrow. High temperatures haven’t remained in the 40s on Halloween in the nation’s capital since 2002 (47°).

As a whole, October 2023 has been a memorable weather month in the nation’s capital. The month got off to an exceptionally warm start with highs in the 80s on the first five days. That was followed by a chilly stretch during the middle of the month and more September-like warmth over the last week.

Consequently, with a monthly average temperature of 63.5° so far, this month could finish among D.C.’s Top 10 warmest. This October has also been drier than average with only 0.62” of rain to date. While narrowly outside D.C.’s Top 10 driest October’s, this month has been D.C.’s driest October since 2016 (0.90”). 

Washington, D.C.’s warmest October’s (Source: NOAA)

1.  67.1° (2007)
2.  66.3° (2021)
3.  65.2° (1984)
4.  64.9° (2017)
5.  64.7° (1971)
6.  64.5° (1947)
7.  64.4° (1941)
8.  64.1° (2019)
9.  63.4° (1949)
10.  63.3° (1973)

Washington, D.C.’s driest October’s (Source: NOAA)

1.  Trace – 1963
2.  0.02” – 2000
3.  0.28” – 1930
4.  0.29” – 1874
5.  0.34” – 1896, 1892
7.  0.40” – 1920
8.  0.44” – 1924
9.  0.53” – 1882
10.  0.59” – 1998

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