A Day Longer Than Usual, The Year Was Warmer, Too

With a full 365 days of this year gone, it is possible to say with assurance that 2008, which ends tonight, has been warmer than the average year in Washington.

So far, the average temperature for the year, which as a leap year includes an extra day, has been 59.3 degrees at Reagan National Airport. That compares with a long-term annual average of 57.5 degrees.

Factored into the year-to-date average is a high temperature of 54 degrees and a low of 36 on the first day of the year. By coincidence, the high at National Airport yesterday, the next-to-last day, was again 54 degrees. The figure was 10 degrees above average for the date.

Yesterday's low temperature at the airport was 39 degrees, 10 degrees above average and three degrees above the Jan. 1 reading.

Although not so warm as Sunday, when the mercury reached 70 degrees, yesterday's weather permitted a variety of outdoor activities to be conducted in comfort. Volleyball players near the Lincoln Memorial could wear shorts without being accused of showing off.

The highest temperature recorded at National Airport this year was 98 degrees on June 7. The lowest was 16 degrees on Feb. 11.

This year's average temperature is one of the highest for Washington in the past 20 years. It matches the average for 2002, and was exceeded by averages of 60.2 degrees for 1991 and 60 degrees for 1990 and 1998, according to National Weather Service figures.

An unusually warm January and June contributed substantially to the above-normal yearly average. January was 5.1 degrees above normal, and June was 3.4 degrees above.

At least three other months -- February, March and April -- were two or more degrees above normal, according to the Weather Service.

Despite a couple of cold days early in the month, December's temperature has also been above average.

Today is expected to be windy, with daytime highs in the low 40s, the Weather Service said. The forecast called for tonight to be brisk and cold, with lows around 20. Afternoon winds of 20 to 30 mph were forecast for parts of the area, with gusts as high as 45 mph.

The first day of the new year was expected to be sunny and cold, with highs in the mid-30s.