Saturday, January 12, 2013

Inauguration Weather 2013 Update


Temperature Precipitation
Jan. 20 High Low Liquid Snow
2009 30 19 0 0
2010 44 35 0.03 T
2011 44 35 T T
2012 40 28 0.05 0.5
Jan. 21
2009 34 18 0 0
2010 44 31 0.08 T
2011 39 20 0.01 0.1
2012 34 28 0.23 0.6

Approaching the midpoint of meteorological winter, there have been only 5 days so far with temperatures cooler than average in Washington. As the 2013 inauguration approaches, however, it's likely that colder temperatures will prevail.

The latest extended outlook from the Climate Prediction Center for January 20-26 (click to enlarge) shows a 40% or higher probability of colder than average temperatures for the Mid Atlantic area. Precipitation chances, however, are rated at 40% or higher to be drier than average.

The table above shows that the trend to cooler temperatures has been common at this point in the winter in recent years, as temperatures have tended to be near or below normal on January 20 and 21. The warmest maximum temperature on each of the 2 days for the 4 years beginning with the last inauguration in 2009 was 44°, just 1° above the long-term average. In each of the last 3 years, there has been at least a trace of precipitation. Some of this fell as snow on each occasion, although the largest amount was 0.6" on January 21 last year.

For a more detailed review of the previous inauguration's weather see:
Inauguration Day Weather, 2009

For a temperature and precipitation climatology of inaugurations prior to 2009 see:
Inauguration Temperature Climatology
and
Political Climate: Inauguration Weather

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Seasonal Outlook

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Latest 3-month temperature outlook from Climate Prediction Center/NWS/NOAA.