Honestly, if you’re standing on the National Mall right this second, you’ve probably noticed the vibe has shifted. It’s gray. It’s thick. The kind of overcast sky that makes the white marble of the monuments look almost ghostly.
Right now in Washington, the temperature is sitting at exactly 48°F.
It’s not "freezing" in the technical sense, but with a south wind kicking at 8 mph, it feels like 44°F. You’ll want a real coat if you’re walking from the Smithsonian Metro to the air and space museum.
Humidity is hanging out at 60%, and since it’s currently nighttime, the UV index is a flat zero. Basically, the city is tucked under a heavy blanket of clouds, waiting for the other shoe to drop.
The Big Temperature Crash Is Coming
You can’t talk about what is the weather in washington dc right now without looking at the next few hours. We are currently in the "calm before the storm" phase—though in DC, "storm" usually just means everyone panics at the grocery store over a dusting of flakes.
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Today’s high actually hit 53°F, which felt pretty decent for mid-January. But don't let that fool you. The low tonight is plummeting to 31°F. That is a massive swing.
Rain is already starting to move in. Most local stations, including the Capital Weather Gang, are tracking a front that’s going to turn this damp evening into something much crispier by morning.
Breaking Down the Next 12 Hours
- Midnight: The temperature starts its nosedive.
- Pre-dawn: Expect a transition. That 25% chance of "light rain" mentioned in the forecasts starts looking a lot more like a 25% chance of "snow."
- Commute time: It’s going to be icy.
The wind is the real story here. While it’s coming from the south at 9 mph for the moment, it’s about to pivot. Tomorrow is going to be a wind-chill nightmare.
Why DC Weather Is So Predictably Unpredictable
People love to complain that DC weather forecasters can’t get it right. Truthfully, the geography here is a mess for meteorology. You’ve got the Appalachian Mountains to the west and the Chesapeake Bay to the east.
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This creates a "rain-snow line" that usually sits right on top of I-95. One mile north? Three inches of snow. One mile south? Just a cold, miserable rain.
Right now, we are firmly in the "cloudy but waiting" zone. The humidity at 54% for the daily average suggests the air isn't quite saturated enough for a massive dump of snow, which is why the precipitation chances stay relatively low at 10% for rain during the day and 25% for snow at night.
Survival Tips for the Current Conditions
If you’re a tourist or a local just trying to get home, here’s the reality:
- Layer up now. That 44-degree "feels like" temperature is going to feel like the 20s by 4:00 AM.
- Watch the bridges. DC loves to salt the roads late. If that rain hits before the freeze, things get slick fast.
- Forget the umbrella. With 8-10 mph winds, a cheap umbrella is just a broken kite. Wear a hood.
What to Expect Tomorrow
Tomorrow is going to be a shock to the system. We’re moving from a high of 53°F today to a day where the mercury might struggle to move at all.
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The clouds aren't going anywhere. It’s going to stay gray, gloomy, and increasingly windy.
When people ask what is the weather in washington dc right now, the honest answer is: it’s the end of the mild spell. Winter has finally decided to show up to the District, and it’s bringing a South wind that’s about to turn very, very cold.
Actionable Next Steps:
Check your outdoor pipes tonight before the 31°F low hits. If you are commuting via the Metro or driving the Beltway tomorrow morning, give yourself an extra 20 minutes; the transition from rain to snow overnight is notorious for creating black ice on the Theodore Roosevelt Bridge and the 11th Street Bridge.