November is a true transition month in D.C., when fall begins to fade and the first hints of winter emerge. Trees are often past peak color, days grow short and crisp, and temperatures trend steadily downward. While winter doesn’t officially begin until December, November frequently delivers its first previews — including the season’s first freeze and, occasionally, an early snowfall.
Normal and record daily temperatures
Average highs in November fall from about 64 degrees at the start of the month to 53 degrees by the end, with lows dropping from 46 to 38 degrees.
The month’s extremes range from a record high of 86 degrees (Nov. 1, 1974) to a record low of 11 degrees (Nov. 30, 1929).
Record daily precipitation
As the region moves deeper into the cool season, daily precipitation extremes tend to diminish.
The wettest November day on record brought 2.95 inches on Nov. 8, 1943. At the other end, a few daily records are relatively modest — with three days topping out at less than an inch.
Record daily snowfall
The snowiest November day on record came on Veterans Day 1987, when 11.5 inches fell in a rare early-season storm.
Snow is uncommon early in the month, with many dates in the first two-thirds of November never recording measurable snowfall. By late month — starting around Nov. 22 — every day has a snowfall record.
Monthly temperatures by the year
November’s average temperature is 49.9 degrees, a drop of nearly 11 degrees from October.
The warmest November on record occurred recently, in 2024 (55.2 degrees), while the coldest came in 1873 (40.3 degrees).
November has also warmed over time, with average temperatures rising by about 5 degrees since 1900.
Monthly precipitation by year
November averages just under 3 inches of precipitation, ranking as the third driest month of the year in D.C., behind October and December.
The wettest November on record came in 2018, with 7.57 inches, while the driest occurred in 1981, with just 0.29 inches.
Monthly snowfall by year
November snowfall in D.C. is sporadic and increasingly rare.
The monthly average is just 0.1 inch, largely the result of occasional, isolated events. The 1.4 inches in November 2018 was the first measurable accumulation since 1996.
Snow chances are somewhat higher in the western and northern suburbs, where colder air tends to arrive earlier.
First freeze, trending later
The first freeze of the season now averages around Nov. 20 in D.C.’s current climate, though it arrives earlier in colder western suburbs, such as near Washington Dulles International Airport, where it typically occurs about a month sooner.
The latest first freeze on record came in 2001 (Dec. 22), while the earliest occurred on Oct. 10, 1895.
Over time, the first freeze has shifted significantly later — from late October around 1900 to more than three weeks later today.
Events of note
Nov. 4, 1974. A calendar-day record 4 inches of snow fell — the largest snowfall this early in the season.
Nov. 6–7, 1953. A total of 6.6 inches of snow fell, marking the largest storm this early in the season. Of that, 6.5 inches fell on the 6th, with winds near 30 mph creating drifts several feet deep.
Nov. 8, 1943. The wettest November day on record brought 2.95 inches of rain. Temperatures reached 72 degrees, and a tornado was reported in Maryland.
Nov. 9, 1926. A violent tornado struck La Plata, killing 17 people, including 13 students at a school that was destroyed. Debris was carried as far as Upper Marlboro and Bowie.
Nov. 11, 1987. A historic Veterans Day snowstorm produced a daily and monthly record of 11.5 inches in Washington, one of the most unusual early-season events on record.
Nov. 15, 2018. Despite a warming climate, 1.4 inches of snow fell in Washington, with higher totals elsewhere in the region.
Nov. 17, 1927. A tornado carved a 17-mile path from Virginia through Washington into Maryland. More than 200 homes were destroyed in the city, with an additional 300 structures damaged in Alexandria. A 93-mph gust was recorded at Anacostia Air Station.
Nov. 24, 1971. 1.4 inches of snow fell in D.C. Several hundred Thanksgiving Eve travelers were stranded in northern Virginia, where up to 10 inches fell.
Nov. 25, 1938. The city recorded 6.8 inches of Thanksgiving snow, while 1 to 2.5 feet fell in the mountains to the west.
Nov. 27–28, 1993. A November 24-hour rainfall record of 4.03 inches was set (not on a calendar day), including 2.26 inches on the 28th, leading to flooding of roads and streams.
