So, you’re looking at the weather washington dc hourly forecast and trying to figure out if you actually need that heavy parka or if a light shell will do. Honestly, DC weather is a bit of a mood. One minute you’re walking past the reflecting pool in crisp sunlight, and the next, a weirdly targeted gust of wind from the Potomac makes you regret every life choice that led you outdoors.
Right now, as of early Sunday morning, January 18, 2026, it is 35°F in the District. If you look out the window, it’s a bit of a mess—light rain is falling, and the humidity is sitting at a heavy 92%. It feels damp. It feels like "DC damp," which is that specific kind of cold that sinks into your bones despite what the thermometer says.
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What the Next Few Hours Look Like
If you’re planning your morning, don’t expect a massive warmup. We’re basically plateauing. The high for today is only hitting 37°F.
The "light rain" we’re seeing has about a 57% chance of sticking around for a bit, but the daily forecast suggests things will transition to just "cloudy" as the day moves on. Interestingly, the wind is currently a lazy 3 mph from the north, but it’s expected to pick up later, shifting to the northwest at about 10 mph.
Basically, if you’re heading out to grab coffee or hitting a museum, the vibe is "grey and chilly."
The "Swamp" Myth and the Heat Island Reality
People love to call DC a swamp. You’ve heard it, I’ve heard it, politicians love it. But scientifically? It's not a swamp. Most of the city was actually forested. The reason it feels so gross in the summer (and so weirdly inconsistent in the winter) is the Urban Heat Island effect.
Because we have so much asphalt and so many massive stone monuments, the city traps heat. In the summer, this makes it a literal furnace. In the winter, it can sometimes mean the difference between a "dusting" of snow and a full-blown slush-pocalypse.
Deciphering the Hourly Forecast for Today
- Morning: Expect that light rain to linger. With a temperature of 35°F, it’s just warm enough to stay liquid, but just cold enough to be miserable.
- Afternoon: We hit our peak of 37°F. Clouds will dominate, and there’s a small 20% chance of snow mentioned in the daily outlook for the daytime hours. Don’t get your hopes up for a sledding day; it’s likely just some flakes mixing with the clouds.
- Evening/Night: This is where the shift happens. The sky is supposed to clear up. The temperature is going to tank down to a low of 23°F.
If you’re out late, that 23°F is going to feel sharp, especially with the northwesterly wind kicking up to 10 mph.
Why DC Weather is Such a Headache
The geography is the culprit. We’re caught between the Appalachian Mountains to the west and the Atlantic to the east. Cold air gets trapped against the mountains (we call this "cold air damming"), while moisture creeps up from the south.
This is why "weather washington dc hourly" is a search term that gets hammered every time a storm system even thinks about moving toward the Mid-Atlantic. A shift of ten miles in a storm track is the difference between three inches of snow and a rainy Tuesday.
Actionable Advice for Navigating the District Today
Don't trust the "35 degrees" at face value. With the humidity at 92%, the air is holding that cold right against your skin.
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What you should actually do:
- Wear waterproof layers. Since we have light rain now and potentially some snow flurries later, a non-porous outer shell is better than a wool coat that will just soak up the moisture.
- Watch the freeze tonight. The jump from a daytime high of 37 to a nighttime low of 23 is significant. Any lingering puddles from this morning’s rain are going to turn into black ice by 8:00 PM.
- Check the northwest wind. A 10 mph wind at 23 degrees creates a wind chill that will make it feel like the mid-teens. If you're walking the dog tonight, bring the gloves.
The District might not be a literal swamp, but it’s definitely a place where the hourly forecast is your best friend. Stay dry out there this morning, and get ready for a much colder, clearer night.