February is one of the cooler months of the year in Washington, with average highs near 6.1°C and lows around -2.9°C (mean 1.6°C). It is one of the drier months, averaging 73 mm of rainfall and 81% relative humidity across the period.
February is one of the cooler months of the year in Washington. Across 45 years of records, the warmest February in Washington was 2017 — when the month averaged 6.1°C — while the coldest was 2015 at -4.2°C. Typical February days reach 6.1°C with nights near -2.9°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.4°C per decade.
February is one of the drier months in Washington, averaging 73 mm of rainfall. The wettest February on record was 2003 with 174 mm, while the driest was 2009 at 12 mm.
Relative humidity in Washington during February averages 81%. The most humid February was 2010 at 89%, and the least humid was 2002 at 68%.
February receives about 2.9 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Washington. The sunniest Februarys were 2002 and 2009 at 3.4 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest were 2003 and 2018 at 2.3.
Average wind speed in Washington during February is 3.2 m/s. The windiest Februarys were 1993, 1996 and 2010, among others at 3.6 m/s, while the calmest were 1986 and 2024 at 2.7 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 0.9°C | 1.6°C | 1.4°C | 1.4°C | 3.4°C | +2.5°C |
| Avg High | 5.1°C | 6.0°C | 6.0°C | 5.9°C | 7.9°C | +2.8°C |
| Avg Low | -3.4°C | -2.8°C | -3.3°C | -3.1°C | -1.1°C | +2.3°C |
| Avg Rain | 85 mm | 73 mm | 61 mm | 76 mm | 66 mm | -19 mm |
February temperatures in Washington have risen by about 1.9°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
February has ranged from a record low of -18.7°C (2015) to a record high of 23.4°C (2018).
Rainfall in February is one of the drier months, averaging 73 mm, with a wettest year of 174 mm.
A quieter season to visit Washington
If your dates are flexible, the more temperate months of June and September tend to be the most comfortable for visiting Washington. That said, February — with days averaging 6.1°C and nights around -2.9°C (mean 1.6°C) and moderate rainfall (73 mm) — can still be rewarding for travellers who don't mind the cooler conditions, and often means fewer crowds.
| Year | Avg High | Avg Temp | Avg Low | Hottest Day | Coldest Day | Rainfall | Humidity | Wind | Solar |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 6.3°C | 1.9°C | -2.5°C | 16.2°C | -8.4°C | 67 mm | 77% | 3.2 m/s | 2.9 |
| 2024 | 8.9°C | 4.3°C | -0.4°C | 17.4°C | -5.4°C | 44 mm | 83% | 2.7 m/s | 3.2 |
| 2023 | 10.6°C | 5.6°C | 0.6°C | 22.7°C | -8.4°C | 54 mm | 78% | 3.2 m/s | 2.8 |
| 2022 | 8.8°C | 3.5°C | -1.7°C | 18.9°C | -7.3°C | 50 mm | 77% | 3.3 m/s | 3.3 |
| 2021 | 3.9°C | 0.5°C | -2.9°C | 12.1°C | -9.7°C | 115 mm | 85% | 3.2 m/s | 2.5 |
| 2020 | 9.1°C | 4.7°C | 0.2°C | 16.8°C | -6.2°C | 69 mm | 79% | 3 m/s | 2.8 |
| 2019 | 6.0°C | 2.2°C | -1.6°C | 18.0°C | -10.4°C | 90 mm | 86% | 2.8 m/s | 2.7 |
| 2018 | 9.0°C | 4.5°C | 0.0°C | 23.4°C | -8.4°C | 127 mm | 84% | 3 m/s | 2.3 |
| 2017 🔥 | 11.5°C | 6.1°C | 0.6°C | 21.9°C | -6.0°C | 26 mm | 77% | 3.2 m/s | 3.1 |
| 2016 | 6.2°C | 2.0°C | -2.1°C | 17.5°C | -13.1°C | 106 mm | 82% | 3.4 m/s | 2.8 |
| 2015 ❄️ | 0.6°C | -4.2°C | -9.1°C | 12.6°C | -18.7°C | 47 mm | 78% | 3.4 m/s | 3.2 |
| 2014 | 2.9°C | -1.7°C | -6.3°C | 14.2°C | -15.6°C | 104 mm | 85% | 2.9 m/s | 3 |
| 2013 | 4.8°C | 1.0°C | -2.8°C | 12.8°C | -9.2°C | 51 mm | 81% | 3.3 m/s | 2.8 |
| 2012 | 9.1°C | 4.3°C | -0.6°C | 17.7°C | -5.5°C | 59 mm | 81% | 3.1 m/s | 3.2 |
| 2011 | 7.7°C | 2.6°C | -2.4°C | 20.0°C | -7.6°C | 59 mm | 79% | 3.4 m/s | 3.1 |
| 2010 | 1.2°C | -2.6°C | -6.5°C | 5.4°C | -15.9°C | 94 mm | 89% | 3.6 m/s | 2.9 |
| 2009 | 7.1°C | 2.2°C | -2.8°C | 17.7°C | -10.1°C | 12 mm | 77% | 3.5 m/s | 3.4 |
| 2008 | 7.2°C | 2.4°C | -2.3°C | 18.9°C | -9.5°C | 89 mm | 80% | 3.3 m/s | 2.7 |
| 2007 | 1.1°C | -3.2°C | -7.6°C | 11.1°C | -17.3°C | 76 mm | 80% | 3.5 m/s | 3.2 |
| 2006 | 6.1°C | 1.8°C | -2.5°C | 15.7°C | -9.0°C | 43 mm | 77% | 3.3 m/s | 3.2 |
| 2005 | 7.0°C | 2.3°C | -2.5°C | 15.5°C | -7.9°C | 48 mm | 81% | 2.8 m/s | 2.9 |
| 2004 | 5.0°C | 0.5°C | -3.9°C | 14.8°C | -14.9°C | 54 mm | 82% | 2.9 m/s | 3.3 |
| 2003 🌧️ | 2.2°C | -1.3°C | -4.8°C | 9.2°C | -9.4°C | 174 mm | 86% | 3.1 m/s | 2.3 |
| 2002 | 9.8°C | 4.2°C | -1.5°C | 22.6°C | -6.6°C | 13 mm | 68% | 3.5 m/s | 3.4 |
| 2001 | 7.5°C | 2.6°C | -2.2°C | 15.0°C | -6.0°C | 52 mm | 78% | 3.1 m/s | 3.1 |
| 2000 | 7.2°C | 2.3°C | -2.7°C | 22.1°C | -11.7°C | 52 mm | 85% | 2.9 m/s | 3.1 |
| 1999 | 7.7°C | 3.0°C | -1.6°C | 20.3°C | -8.2°C | 73 mm | 79% | 3 m/s | 3 |
| 1998 | 7.4°C | 3.7°C | -0.1°C | 14.0°C | -4.3°C | 160 mm | 87% | 3.2 m/s | 2.8 |
| 1997 | 7.1°C | 2.7°C | -1.7°C | 21.3°C | -7.3°C | 73 mm | 85% | 3 m/s | 3 |
| 1996 | 4.3°C | 0.1°C | -4.1°C | 14.7°C | -18.3°C | 56 mm | 84% | 3.6 m/s | 2.5 |
| 1995 | 3.7°C | -0.8°C | -5.4°C | 14.9°C | -16.4°C | 51 mm | 79% | 3.3 m/s | 2.9 |
| 1994 | 2.9°C | -1.4°C | -5.7°C | 14.6°C | -11.1°C | 113 mm | 88% | 2.9 m/s | 3 |
| 1993 | 2.7°C | -1.2°C | -5.1°C | 9.7°C | -12.7°C | 69 mm | 80% | 3.6 m/s | 3.1 |
| 1992 | 6.2°C | 1.9°C | -2.5°C | 14.0°C | -10.3°C | 62 mm | 82% | 3.2 m/s | 2.8 |
| 1991 | 8.2°C | 3.4°C | -1.4°C | 17.2°C | -8.3°C | 28 mm | 80% | 3.2 m/s | 2.9 |
| 1990 | 9.7°C | 4.6°C | -0.6°C | 16.9°C | -10.8°C | 45 mm | 82% | 3.5 m/s | 2.7 |
| 1989 | 5.1°C | 1.2°C | -2.7°C | 17.0°C | -10.3°C | 82 mm | 79% | 3.1 m/s | 2.5 |
| 1988 | 4.7°C | 0.6°C | -3.5°C | 15.4°C | -12.9°C | 82 mm | 80% | 3.5 m/s | 3.1 |
| 1987 | 3.6°C | -0.3°C | -4.2°C | 8.5°C | -10.9°C | 56 mm | 81% | 2.9 m/s | 3.2 |
| 1986 | 3.0°C | -0.5°C | -4.0°C | 11.3°C | -11.4°C | 91 mm | 89% | 2.7 m/s | 2.4 |
| 1985 | 3.8°C | -0.9°C | -5.5°C | 16.6°C | -16.0°C | 77 mm | 84% | 3.1 m/s | 3.3 |
| 1984 | 7.6°C | 3.3°C | -1.0°C | 14.9°C | -9.5°C | 106 mm | 87% | 3.4 m/s | 2.7 |
| 1983 | 5.0°C | 0.7°C | -3.6°C | 14.3°C | -15.9°C | 83 mm | 83% | 3.1 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 5.0°C | 0.7°C | -3.6°C | 14.5°C | -7.7°C | 91 mm | 82% | 3 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 8.2°C | 2.9°C | -2.4°C | 18.9°C | -10.1°C | 98 mm | 78% | 3.6 m/s | — |
Actual recorded February data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in February is around 6.1°C with lows near -2.9°C (mean 1.6°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
February averages 73 mm of rainfall in Washington, one of the drier months. The wettest on record was 174 mm in 2003.
The hottest February reached 23.4°C in 2018. The coldest dipped to -18.7°C in 2015.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average February temperatures have risen by about 1.9°C. Daytime highs moved from 5.9°C to 7.7°C and overnight lows from -3.2°C to -1.4°C over the same span.
February is one of the cooler months of the year in Washington and one of the drier months, so plan for around 6.1°C daytime highs and -2.9°C at night.
Not quite — February is the 2nd coolest month in Washington, averaging 1.6°C.
For February in Washington, pack warm layers and a jacket for chilly mornings, with typical highs of 6.1°C and lows of -2.9°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in February averages 81% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in February is 3.2 m/s. The windiest February on record averaged 3.6 m/s (1981).
The wettest February on record was 2003 with 174 mm. On average, February sees 73 mm.
All figures are derived from NASA POWER (Prediction Of Worldwide Energy Resources), based on MERRA-2 satellite reanalysis, covering 1981–2025.
Explore how the weather in Washington behaves each February, based on 45 years of NASA POWER climate data from 1981 to 2025. This page breaks down average temperatures, rainfall, humidity, wind and solar radiation for February specifically, along with year-by-year records and how the month has changed over the decades.
