Look out the window and you’ll see it. The sky over the District is currently a moody, partly cloudy mix as we settle into Sunday night, January 18, 2026. If you just stepped out of a late dinner in Adams Morgan or finished a shift near Capitol Hill, you already know—it's biting.
Weather in wash dc now is sitting at a crisp 31°F. But honestly? The thermometer is lying to you. Thanks to a 7 mph wind cutting in from the northwest, it actually feels more like 25°F.
The humidity is hovering at 62%, and while we saw a messy mix of rain and snow earlier today, things have mostly dried out for the moment. We’re in that weird mid-winter limbo where the puddles from this morning’s slush are starting to rethink their liquid state.
The Slushy Reality of Today’s Forecast
Did you catch the flakes earlier? Most of the DMV saw a "conversational" snow event today. It wasn't the kind of blizzard that shuts down the federal government, but it was enough to make the Sunday brunch commute a bit of a headache.
According to the latest data from the National Weather Service, Reagan National Airport recorded light accumulations, mostly on the grass. The high reached 38°F earlier, but we are officially on the downhill slide.
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The precipitation chance has dropped to 0% for the immediate hour, but don't let that fool you into thinking the "weather in wash dc now" is finished with its drama.
Why Tonight is the Real Story
As we move deeper into the night, the clouds are expected to clear out. While "clear skies" sounds nice for star-gazing, in a D.C. winter, it’s basically an open invitation for the heat to escape.
- The Low: We are bottoming out at 24°F.
- Wind Chill: It's going to stay breezy, so expect those "feels like" numbers to dip into the teens by daybreak.
- Surface Hazards: Any lingering moisture on the sidewalks—especially those brick ones in Georgetown—is going to turn into a skating rink.
The Polar Vortex is Knocking
If you think tonight is cold, just wait. The real "shock to the system" arrives later this week. Meteorologists at the Capital Weather Gang and WUSA9 are tracking an arctic front that makes tonight look like a tropical vacation.
Monday (MLK Jr. Day) will stay somewhat manageable with a high of 40°F and plenty of sunshine. It’s the perfect day for a brisk walk on the Mall, provided you have a heavy wool coat. But by Tuesday? Everything changes.
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We’re looking at a high that might not even break 29°F. The overnight lows for Tuesday night are forecasted to hit 17°F. That is serious, pipes-freezing, "why-do-I-live-here" cold.
Survival Tips for the Next 48 Hours
Washingtonians are notoriously bad at handling winter, but this week requires a bit of strategy.
First, check your outdoor faucets. If you haven't disconnected your hoses yet, tonight is the absolute deadline. Second, watch your pets. The salt used on the streets near the Wharf and Navy Yard can be brutal on paws, and with the "weather in wash dc now" dropping below freezing, short coats won't cut it.
If you’re commuting on the Metro tomorrow, give yourself an extra ten minutes. Even if the trains are running fine, the walk to the station is going to feel significantly longer when that northwest wind hits you in the face.
The biggest misconception people have about D.C. winters is that they’re "mild." Sure, we aren't Buffalo. But the dampness of the Potomac combined with these sudden arctic plunges creates a specific kind of bone-chilling cold that catches people off guard every single January.
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Actionable Next Steps:
- Layer up with moisture-wicking base layers if you're heading to any MLK Day events tomorrow.
- Salt your front steps tonight before the freeze-thaw cycle turns the morning melt into black ice.
- Keep an eye on the Tuesday forecast, as that’s when the truly dangerous wind chills arrive.