The best times to visit Washington for ideal weather are

April 2nd to June 10th

or

September 10th to November 4th

based on average temperature and humidity from NOAA (the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). Read below for more weather and travel details.

 

 


Other Washington Travel Info

Weather in Washington

Temperature

Average temperatures in Washington vary drastically. Considering humidity, temperatures feel very nice much of the year, but hot in the summer and cold in the winter with a very low chance of rain or snow throughout the year. The area is somewhat temperate — in the 48th percentile for pleasant weather — compared to tourist destinations worldwide. Weeks with ideal weather are listed above. If you’re looking for the very warmest time to visit Washington, the hottest months are July, August, and then June. See average monthly temperatures below. The warmest time of year is generally late July where highs are regularly around 90.5°F (32.5°C) with temperatures rarely dropping below 72.6°F (22.6°C) at night.

Washington Temperatures (Fahrenheit)

Key
High
Average
Low

Washington Temperatures (Celsius)

Key
High
Average
Low

“Feels-Like” Temperatures

The way we experience weather isn’t all about temperature. Higher temperatures affect us much more at higher humidity, and colder temperatures feel piercing with high winds. Our perceived temperatures factor in humidity and wind chill to better represent how hot or cold the day feels to a person.

Washington Perceived Temperature (F)

Key
High
Average
Low

Washington Perceived Temperature (C)

Key
High
Average
Low

 

Average Washington Temperatures by Month

Daily highs (averaged for the month) usually give the best indication of the weather. A significantly lower mean and low generally just means it gets colder at night.

Show Fahrenheit

Month Avg. High (°F) Avg. Mean (°F) Avg. Low (°F)
Jan 54 42.7 33.5
Feb 56 43.9 34.2
Mar 64.9 52.3 41.8
Apr 74.2 61.9 50.9
May 80.8 69.5 59.2
Jun 87.8 77.2 68.1
Jul 89.3 79.5 71.5
Aug 87.9 78.1 70
Sep 82.8 72.9 64.7
Oct 74.7 62.9 53.3
Nov 64.4 52.2 42.2
Dec 59.2 47.9 38.7

Show Celsius

Month Avg. High (°C) Avg. Mean (°C) Avg. Low (°C)
Jan 12.2 5.9 0.8
Feb 13.3 6.6 1.2
Mar 18.3 11.3 5.4
Apr 23.4 16.6 10.5
May 27.1 20.8 15.1
Jun 31 25.1 20.1
Jul 31.8 26.4 21.9
Aug 31.1 25.6 21.1
Sep 28.2 22.7 18.2
Oct 23.7 17.2 11.8
Nov 18 11.2 5.7
Dec 15.1 8.8 3.7

 


 

Precipitation (Rain or Snow)

If dry weather is what you’re after, the months with the lowest chance of significant precipitation in Washington are November, October, and then May. Note that we define “significant precipitation” as .1 inches or more in this section. The lowest chance of rain or snow occurs around mid October. For example, on the week of October 15th there are no days of precipitation on average. By contrast, it’s most likely to rain or snow in late March with an average of 2 days of significant precipitation the week of March 26th.

When can you find snow in Washington? Weather stations report no annual snow. Please note that a value of 0 for snow in the graph below may either mean there was no snow, or that snow is unreported.

Chance of Precipitation

The graph below shows the % chance of rainy and snowy days in Washington.

Key
Days with precipitation

Snow on the Ground

The graph below shows the average snow on the ground in Washington (in).

Key
Snow depth

Average Rain and Snow by Month

Show Inches

Month Daily Chance of Rain Average Snow Depth (in) Total Precipitation (in)
Jan 7% 0 0.9
Feb 13% 0 1.5
Mar 13% 0 1.7
Apr 13% 0 2.1
May 7% 0 1.8
Jun 12% 0 3.8
Jul 10% 0 1.9
Aug 14% 0 6
Sep 10% 0 4.7
Oct 4% 0 1.4
Nov 2% 0 0.3
Dec 10% 0 2

Show Centimeters

Month Daily Chance of Rain Average Snow Depth (cm) Total Precipitation (cm)
Jan 7 0 2.3
Feb 13 0 3.8
Mar 13 0 4.3
Apr 13 0 5.3
May 7 0 4.6
Jun 12 0 9.7
Jul 10 0 4.8
Aug 14 0 15.2
Sep 10 0 11.9
Oct 4 0 3.6
Nov 2 0 0.8
Dec 10 0 5.1

 

Humidity and Wind

Washington has some slightly muggy months, with moderately humid months on the other side of the year. The least humid month is February (47.7% relative humidity), and the most humid month is July (65.9%).

Wind in Washington is usually calm. The windiest month is March, followed by April and February. March’s average wind speed of around 5.6 knots (6.4 MPH or 10.3 KPH) is considered “a light breeze.” Maximum sustained winds (the highest speed for the day lasting more than a few moments) are at their highest in early April where average top sustained speeds reach 13.6 knots, which is considered a moderate breeze.

Relative Humidity (%)

The graph below shows the average % humidity by month in Washington.

Key
Avg. Relative Humidity

Wind

The graph below shows wind speed (max and average) in knots.

Key
Max Sustained Wind
Average Daily Wind

Average Wind Speeds

Show Wind Speeds

All wind speeds are in knots. 1 knot = 1.15 MPH or 1.85 KPH.

Month Avg. Wind Avg. Wind Feel Sustained High Wind High Wind Feel
Jan 4.5 Light breeze 11.4 Significant breeze
Feb 5.2 Light breeze 12.9 Significant breeze
Mar 5.6 Light breeze 12.9 Significant breeze
Apr 5.5 Light breeze 12.8 Significant breeze
May 5.2 Light breeze 11.9 Significant breeze
Jun 4.6 Light breeze 11.3 Significant breeze
Jul 4.4 Light breeze 11.4 Significant breeze
Aug 3.6 Barely noticeable 9.7 Gentle breeze
Sep 4.1 Light breeze 10.3 Significant breeze
Oct 3.9 Barely noticeable 10.3 Gentle breeze
Nov 4.1 Light breeze 11.1 Significant breeze
Dec 3.9 Barely noticeable 10.8 Gentle breeze

Show Relative Humidity by Month

Month Avg. Relative Humidity
Jan 51.1%
Feb 47.7%
Mar 52.7%
Apr 53.4%
May 63%
Jun 65.3%
Jul 65.9%
Aug 65.4%
Sep 65.7%
Oct 62.1%
Nov 58.9%
Dec 61.5%

 

Is it Safe to Travel to Washington?

Our best data indicates this area is generally safe. As of Dec 04, 2023 there are no travel advisories or warnings for the United States; exercise normal security precautions. Check this page for any recent changes or regions to avoid: Travel Advice and Advisories. This advisory was last updated on Dec 04, 2023.


 

The Busiest and Least Crowded Months

The busiest month for tourism in Washington, NC, US is June, followed by July and May. Prices for hotels and flights will be most expensive during these months, though you can save if you purchase well in advance. Tourists are unlikely to visit Washington in December. Those willing to visit at these times will likely find it the least expensive month.

Estimated Tourism by Month

 

Most Popular Months to Visit

Key
Tourists Seeking Accommodations

Tourism graph is based on Google searches for services used by tourists relative to the rest of the year. Tourism data for this area is extrapolated based on nearby areas. Displayed data is calculated relative to the peak, so a score of 27.3 in December means 27.3% of the tourists vs. June.

 

 

Overall Washington Travel Experience by Season

Spring (March through May)

Humidity and temperatures combine to make this season feel moderate. Highs range from 85.1°F (29.5°C) and 57.5°F (14.2°C) with warmer temperatures in the later months. Rain is rare with 2 to 4 days of significant precipitation per month. Spring is the second busiest for tourism, which makes it a good time for those looking for things to do.

Summer (June through August)

The middle-year months have very comfortable weather with high temperatures that are quite warm. These months see the most precipitation with 3 to 4 days of precipitation per month. June – August is the busiest season for tourism in Washington, so lodging and other accommodations may cost more than usual.

Fall (September through November)

Fall daily highs range from 86.3°F (30.2°C) and 61.5°F (16.4°C), which will feel comfortable given the humidity and wind. It rains or snows a normal amount: 0 to 3 days per month. Tourism is the slowest during these months due to the weather, so hotels may be affordably priced.

Winter (December through February)

Weather is too cold this time of year in Washington to be enjoyable for warm weather travelers. The average high during this season is between 60.4°F (15.8°C) and 51.5°F (10.8°C). On average, it rains or snows a smalll amount: 2 to 4 times per month. These times of year are fairly slow with tourists.

 

Best Times to Travel› the United States › Washington, NC, US