T-shirts and shorts in February! That’s what some people wore on Thursday as temperatures in Montgomery County hovered around the 80 degree mark. Many took advantage of the warmth as they headed outside for lunch or went on long walks in their neighborhoods.
While people in the west and midwest remain buried under snow, the D.C. region got a sneak peak of summer-like temperatures. The high heat broke some records in the region. Reagan National hit a high of 81 degrees on Thursday afternoon. That broke the old record of 78 set in 1874.
BWI Airport also set a record. Temperatures there hit 79 degrees and Dulles Airport reached 80 degrees which also was a record.
Despite the warmth the area experienced on Thursday, forecasters say it will not last. Expect to see about a 30 degree drop in temperatures on Friday. Temperatures may only reach a high of 50 degrees and on Saturday, it is expected to get even colder with a high in the low to mid-40s.
Meteorological spring officially kicks off on March 1 and lasts through May 31. Temperatures are expected to fluctuate as we head into March.
That may confuse D.C.’s famous cherry trees. Some of the trees around the Tidal Basin already are showing buds. If the weather remains warm, the trees may bloom early, but if a cold snap sweeps the region, experts say that could spell trouble for the blossoms.
