September may officially be the first month of meteorological fall, but in Washington, D.C., it often feels like summer with a few, fleeting moments of autumn tossed in for good measure. By the equinox we start to see more hints of autumn — a few orange and red leaves on the trees and cool mornings that require a jacket. We’re now entering what I consider to be the best weather month in the D.C. area: October.
A long time ago, before I packed up a U-Haul truck and journeyed to Atlanta to start a career at what was then a brand new, national cable weather network, I lived in the Washington, D.C., area and worked for the government. Young professionals who live in the big city always attract a number of visitors — friends, relatives and close family — who all wanted to know the best time of year to visit the nation’s capital. My parents, who lived in Rome, N.Y., would ask me what month would be the best time to come down for a visit. After living in the D.C. area for one full year, I formulated the answer, and it hasn’t changed since.
No one enjoys a full day of sightseeing on extremely hot days with oppressive humidity, or on days with frequent bouts of rain and thunderstorms. Traveling in the winter is never a viable option given the chance of winter storm and icy roads. Even without scanning the statistics, I picked October.
That decision never failed me. For the few Octobers that my parents came down to visit, the weather was pleasant as long as we had a sweater or jacket handy. A trip to Skyline Drive for leaf peeping and hot apple cider sealed the deal.
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Was it good fortune, or do the climatological statistics back up my decision? Comparing October with a summer month, like July, I would say that the statistics were in my favor.
October is a month where cold fonts pass by more frequently and high pressure usually ushers in cooler air behind them. With less moisture in the air than in summer, these fronts usually pass by without much rainfall.
The average high temperature during the month is 68 degrees. On average, a high of 90 degrees can be experienced less than one day a month. The most recent 90-degree high at Washington, D.C.’s official weather station, Reagan National Airport, was Oct 4, 2013.
Yet, with nearly 3.5 inches of rain on average, October ranks as the sixth wettest month in the year — it can hardly be categorized as “dry” at first glance. Digging a bit deeper, though, there are numerous dry periods. For example, in 1963, only a trace rain was measured in the entire month. On average, rainfall of a tenth of an inch or more only occurs on five days during October.
In contrast, October has also seen some hefty rainfall totals and these (very occasional) events have likely skewed the average. Some of that rain can be attributed to occasional slow-moving weather systems but tropical systems have also affected the Mid-Atlantic region, including D.C. Hurricane Hazel produced heavy rain and wind around the region back in October of 1954. More recently in 2005, the combination of a subtropical storm and remnants of Tropical Storm Tammy produced 7.30 inches of rain in a matter of two days on Oct. 7 and 8. It can snow but less than one day on average during October. I do remember riding into the city on a bus in October of 1979 and there was a dusting of snow on the ground.
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Summers can be harsh. Although the days are longer, uncomfortable heat and humidity comes into play (not to mention frequent heavy downpours and lightning). Using July as an example, a 90-degree day can be experienced around half of the time. In 1999 and 2011 Washington, D.C., reached a high of 95 or higher on 14 July days. With dew point temperatures in the upper 60s to 70s, heat indices of 95 to 100 degrees or higher can be expected. Thunderstorms occur about every fourth day.
So, in this case it appears that my perception and the stats were actually in alignment (with perhaps a bit of luck thrown in). My mom and dad have passed away but I will always have fond memories of my days in the Washington, D.C., area, especially those often sunny and occasionally cool days of October.
Tom Moore is a meteorologist living in the Atlanta area. After working in physical science in Washington, D.C., Tom moved to the Weather Channel where he spent 33 years as a lead forecaster and on-camera meteorologist. Tom holds a B.S. degrees in Meteorology and Geography from S.U.N.Y. Oswego and University of Maryland, and attended graduate school at George Mason University.
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