Washington DC - Extreme Daily Precipitation for Each Year

This page lists the biggest rainstorms or snowstorms of the year in Washington DC along with the date they occurred. The information can answer questions such as: When was the last time more than four inches of precipitation landed on Washington in a single day? What was the rainiest day of 2019?

The precipitation extremes were measured at Reagan National Airport near downtown Washington and go back to 1946. During that time, the heaviest downpour recorded for a single day there was 6.1 inches (155.2 millimetres) of rain in 1972.

Most precipitation in one day for recent years in Washington DC
Inches Date Milli­metres
2.14 November 21, 2023   54.4
4.05 July 09, 2022   102.9
2.38 August 14, 2021   60.5
2.88 September 10, 2020   73.2
3.44 July 08, 2019 87.4
4.00 July 21, 2018 101.6
3.31 July 28, 2017 84.1
1.24 May 02, 2016 31.5
2.75 June 27, 2015 69.9
2.70 April 30, 2014 68.6
2.86 June 28, 2013 72.6
3.85 October 29, 2012 97.8
3.33 August 27, 2011 84.6
4.66 September 30, 2010 118.4
Highest daily precipitation recorded at Washington DC each year
Inches Date Milli­metres
1.65 May 26, 2009 41.9
3.50 September 06, 2008 88.9
2.65 October 26, 2007 67.3
5.19 June 25, 2006 131.8
3.67 October 08, 2005 93.2
2.46 September 28, 2004 62.5
2.28 September 18, 2003 57.9
1.92 June 13, 2002 48.8
1.64 June 16, 2001 41.7
1.86 September 25, 2000 47.2
3.67 September 16, 1999 93.2
2.02 February 04, 1998 51.3
2.17 May 25, 1997 55.1
2.57 November 08, 1996 65.3
3.36 October 14, 1995 85.3
1.65 March 02, 1994 41.9
2.29 March 13, 1993 58.2
1.84 January 04, 1992 46.7
1.59 January 11, 1991 40.4
2.19 June 09, 1990 55.6
2.10 May 05, 1989 53.3
1.34 March 26, 1988 34.0
2.13 September 12, 1987 54.1
2.36 December 24, 1986 59.9
3.17 September 27, 1985 80.5
1.70 November 28, 1984 43.2
2.31 June 28, 1983 58.7
1.75 June 13, 1982 44.5
1.59 July 04, 1981 40.4
1.61 October 25, 1980 40.9
3.68 September 05, 1979 93.5
2.16 March 26, 1978 54.9
2.81 December 18, 1977 71.4
4.76 September 16, 1976 120.9
3.46 September 25, 1975 87.9
1.90 December 01, 1974 48.3
2.88 August 20, 1973 73.2
6.11 June 21, 1972 155.2
3.79 August 27, 1971 96.3
4.69 July 09, 1970 119.1
4.35 July 22, 1969 110.5
2.23 June 12, 1968 56.6
3.47 August 24, 1967 88.1
4.07 September 14, 1966 103.4
1.60 October 07, 1965 40.6
1.25 August 03, 1964 31.8
4.83 August 20, 1963 122.7
1.68 October 04, 1962 42.7
2.40 August 23, 1961 61.0
2.18 September 12, 1960 55.4
2.76 June 02, 1959 70.1
3.12 August 25, 1958 79.2
1.71 August 25, 1957 43.4
1.70 September 27, 1956 43.2
5.44 August 12, 1955 138.2
1.73 October 15, 1954 43.9
3.24 May 05, 1953 82.3
2.82 September 01, 1952 71.6
2.90 July 28, 1951 73.7
3.74 August 19, 1950 95.0
1.92 May 22, 1949 48.8
2.84 August 01, 1948 72.1
3.47 June 07, 1947 88.1
2.59 August 06, 1946 65.8
Reference

Jay Lawrimore. 2016. Global Summary of the Year, Version 1.0. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. 

Washington - Extremes
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