Hello my fab februarians, I’m here still writing weather reports for Currently’s Washington, DC newsletter. Let’s go!
Currently is a weather service for the era of climate change
Currently is a free subscription weather service — delivering daily weather poetry to your inbox, and connecting you with interactive weather alerts and real-time climate context straight to your phone. We’re a community of people sharing resources and delivering justice, hope, safety, and resilience in a world in urgent need of systemic action.
February Fabulously Happening Across Washington, DC
February 1st, 2022
Tuesday is your doorway into a bright new month and the weather should feel similar to Monday. Mostly clouds cover skies with a light 3-6mph East northeast wind. Temperature highs reach low-40s around 4PM hovering to make for a mild evening commute or walk in the park.
Speaking of, DC has it’s very own Boaty McBoatface-style community submission contest to rename the NOMA park at the corner of 3rd and L streets NE, currently called “Swampoodle II.” You can read about the history of the area here and once inspiration strikes, submit your ideas here.
February 2nd, 2022
Wednesday pokes their head out from under the cold topsoil of the week, seeing partly sunny skies, temps in the 30s, highs in the high-40s, and an evening chance of rain. They see something else, a shadow? Muttering, is that… the same shadow of fossil-fueled politics blocking just climate action that’s BEEN in the way? There’s no correlation between one mammal’s attention and changing seasons. However, there is one between the looming shadow of the fossil fuel industry and our changing climate; with evermore mammals awaking alarmed.
February 3rd, 2022
Thursday draws back under cover to miss
a mix of rain falling through the day, half an inch
considerably cloudy, temps above average 10 degrees
warm winter lows in the 40s, highs reaching mid-50s.
Early, rain is likely light, then afternoon it stays steady
throughout there could be gusts up to 18mph windy
but that won’t stop folks acting on climate across DC
from electric charger requirements for an electric city,
to activism bringing forth hope and community,
and mid-day mobilizing bike caravan opportunities.
So we face Thursday’s rain (and Friday expect more)
as we are the storm we’ve been waiting for.
February 4th, 2022
Rain falls Friday. Temperatures fall, too. Starting in the swampy winter high-50s carried from overnight; until 13-20mph winds and gusts as high as 30mph get a hold of those degrees to drag them down bit by bit. With each wind whip and rain drip through Friday, temperatures drop. At such a rapid clip DC’s feeling the cold 30s by 2 pm.
Friday’s rain may total a quarter of an inch. I haven’t seen DC flood watches issued by the National Weather Service but if things change, that would appear here. You can track mapped flood risks from DC’s Department of Energy & Environment tool layered from various data sources, here.
February 7th, 2022
Monday is mixed, blessings between partly sunny 30s early to partly cloudy mid-40s by afternoon. There is a slight chance of precipitation thrown in; extra chill could be giving early flurries, an icy glaze east of I-95, or just a few later rain drizzles dampening DC.
If the majority of moisture misses Monday, that may make for a good bicycling day, with calm winds expected. As for buses, Metrobus is scheduled to restart weekday service. Finally, no positive progress to report on the metro-fix front, but this is the week to make your voice heard for just and equitable transit access in metro’s budget.
February 8th, 2022
Tuesday’s sunny
30s to mid-40s
3-10mph breezy
Mostly clear by dark
Tuesday’s jamming.
February 9th, 2022
🌞 Sunlight turns out of Wednesday’s door at dawn. They stay out and about and then some more. They go everywhere.
☀️ Your sunny Wednesday should be beautiful— great for 🚲 and 🚌 and what it has been for 🚇.
♻️ Have you seen the DC Twitter recycling pro answering folks’ waste management questions?
⚡ Sign up for the next DC Solar Action Team meeting to plug into the fight for solar rights.
🏡 Demand DC government use surplus budget funds to stop evictions.
🌳 Breathe-in Black history from DC’s trees Wednesday.
😎 See a solar ray / seize a better day.
February 10th, 2022
Thursday should be another gorgeous one amid this week’s run of sun. Starting in the 40s°F and only getting warmer from there. A lighter-than-your-heavy-winter-coat layer will do you just fine. Thursday’s sunny skies brighten a hopeful gradient, and later winds may crowd a cloud through clumsily, but still radiant.
Even by 3 pm, maybe especially then, it should feel relatively great out, up to mid-50s. Watch out for 10 mph west winds which could gust up to 20mph. I’ll be looking forward to enjoying a mid-afternoon walk with my dog in the sun, seeing him dash about and grin. Air at his ears, soil at his nose.
February 11th, 2022
Friday’s fabulously sunny and warmer than average for DC, with a high near 58°F. It’s this kind of winter weather that’s always nice/reminder of our carbon mess. The moderate breeze agrees, which could gust up to 20mph, snagging afternoon clouds. They join us in an interconnected circle dance around DC, riding gorgeous bike journeys, commuting, taking transit, working, organizing, resting, feeling the warmth, just enjoying Friday.
The weekend also starts warm, with a roaming clipper system expected late Saturday when temperatures drop. There’s a chance evening showers could snowburst overnight, with possible accumulation up to an inch, if any. Bundle-up for Sunday’s cold either way.
February 14th, 2022
Something’s in the air as Monday’s skies blush
mingling sun, clouds, and freezing temperatures hush
in breath projecting icy glazings beneath your face
interlacing a bright light dance tracing across the day
like little gifts wrapped-up in how you better bundle-up
biking, commuting, just stepping outside– but inside, snuggle-up
with a good book, a date, or a dream in a cozy romantic way
as it’s up to you to spread the love with a forecast like Monday’s.
From here, your week promises a slight-warmth glow-up
progressively higher highs until late-week rain disrupts
giving more than just shivering skies above
with what’s in the air across DC: its self-love.
February 15th, 2022
As day breaks, you put yourself together.
A calm breeze lifts your coat over your arms.
The sun brightens sky and cheeks better
with Tuesday slightly warmer.
Feel a calm breeze kiss your eyelashes
and still-cold winter sunlight’s embrace
giving the gift of community climate action,
keep at-it on our greener way.
With solar shining on roofs and horizons,
and counties-off, wind turbines spinning away,
mixing with climate justice movements rising,
fall in love with the future Tuesday.
February 16th, 2022
LATE VALENTINE SONNET
I ask my love if it matters whether
The Weather Wednesday is getting warmer
Whether valentines is really ever
The kind of event one can be late for
Whether Wednesday skies are partly sunny
The chilly morning will warm-up quickly
Giving beautiful bikeways for DC
When he can hold my hand and walk with me
To the bus or park like it’s any day
With moderate winds that could gust from a
Developing frontal zone set Wednesday
Warmer than average as climate’s become
He answers me now with the sky scattered:
Honor love daily— everything matters.
February 17th, 2022
🚲✅
Thursday mixes multiple elements like a love poem
increasingly warm, epic as skies are full and cloud-laden,
and formed early by moderate winds confessing their infatuation:
🚌✅
O enchanting DC day, sings Thursday’s climate cascade
above-average both as-in charming and as-in
highs twenty degrees warmer than average,
🚇☑
giving a mingling of feelings about the hotness upon us
blending heat and clouds like hope and fear into late showers teeming
by evening dripping with 20-30mph winds gusting up to 40mph, singing.
☁️🌧️
February 18th, 2022
Once upon a February Friday
In Washington, DC
Early morning showers taper away
For clear afternoon skies into evening
But fantastic winds will yammer on
Going 15-22 miles per hour
Or gusting at double-that, clambering on
Bringing our area cooler air
Convincing temperatures to wind-down
Talked-down by gregarious winds
Morning~50°F dropping to around
Afternoon~40s, to 30s by day’s end
Then once upon this weekend
Across the DMV
Breezing winds continue
And temps chill by degrees
Though skies stay sunny and clear
Until a cloudier Monday
With warmer 50s-60s near
We’re ever after on our way.
February 28th, 2022
Hello, folks! Monday’s giving DC a fond farewell to meteorological Winter. Cool winds and smiling sunny skies make for a fitting season send-off, lit in strobing climate code reds, decorated in cozy layers, and picking up in 10-15 mph streaming winds. Later, sun-spread skies offer a slight and soft glow-up, bringing chilly 30s near mid-40s°F midday. By then, chattering winds calm a bit. With a partly cloudy clean-up by night.
Tuesday and Wednesday should show up with even more warmth, really bringing the Spring feeling for the Washington region with 50s and 60s°F highs through the rest of the week.
— Adam Powers