The coldest decades on record are ranked here for Washington, DC. The lists include decades when Washington had the lowest average temperatures, the fewest hot days and the most cold days. These extremes are for temperatures observed at Reagan National Airport near downtown Washington and cover seven decades, from the 1950s to the 2010s.
That is when Washington had weather measurements that are consistent and complete enough to compare decades. Each decade comprises a standard 10-year range. For instance, the 1990s includes measurements from Jan 1, 1990 to Dec 31, 1999.
Links to the data behind these lists are in the References section on this page.
Coolest High Temperatures
Average daily maximum temperature at Washington
|
High °F |
Decade |
High °C |
| Lowest |
66.0 |
1960s |
18.9 |
| Runner-up |
66.1 |
1950s |
19.0 |
Coldest Low Temperatures
Average daily minimum temperature at Washington
|
Low °F |
Decade |
Low °C |
| Lowest |
47.3 |
1960s |
8.5 |
| Runner-up |
48.7 |
1950s |
9.3 |
Fewest Warm Days
Total days per year on average when Washington had temperatures of at least 70 °F (21 °C)
|
Days |
Decade |
| Lowest |
173 |
1950s |
| Runner-up |
175 |
1960s |
Fewest Hot Days
Total days per year on average when Washington had temperatures of at least 90 °F (32 °C)
|
Days |
Decade |
| Lowest |
29 |
2000s |
| Runner-up |
32 |
1950s |
Most Freezing Days
Total days per year on average when Washington had temperatures of 32 °F (0 °C) or lower
|
Days |
Decade |
| Highest |
83 |
1960s |
| Runner-up |
71 |
1950s |