WASHINGTON — High temperatures this Sunday, which of course is also Easter, will likely reach above 80 degrees for most of us.
Because Easter occurs between late March and late April (for western churches that follow the Gregorian calendar), it is not often a very warm holiday. But this year, Easter for both western and Eastern Orthodox churches falls on the same day in perfect timing for the warm temperatures.
The last time the national capital region saw temperatures about 80 degrees on Easter was in 2011, when we reached 85 in D.C. And that wasn’t even a record for the date, which is 94 degrees, set in 1960. Other Easters in the past decade weren’t even close.
The record high for this coming Sunday is 92 degrees, set in 2002.
Temperatures also climbed above the 80-degree mark on Easter Sunday, April 4, 1999, when we reached 82. But the record high for the date, April 4, is 85, and it’s interesting that it was set in 2011.
Most of the daily, record high temperatures for the month of April are 90 degrees or above and they were mostly set in the mid 20th century.
Many may remember Easter Sunday, April 18, 1976: The high was 95, which is the highest temperature on record for the month of April in D.C.
Easter Dates and High temperatures
3/27/16: 57
4/5/15: 69
4/20/14: 64
3/31/13: 56
4/8/12: 74
4/24/11: 85* record high
4/4/10: 77
4/12/09: 56
3/23/08: 51
4/8/07: 46
The Forecast
On Sunday, the boundary will be well to our north and southwesterly winds coupled with partial sunshine will let temperatures soar. It’s just going to be for one day though. A cold front will swing through late Easter evening with a few more showers or even some thunderstorms, and Monday won’t be as warm.
On Saturday, highs crept into the 70s. Today, it will feel a bit like summer!
NBC Storm Team 4 meteorologist Lauryn Ricketts contributed to this report.
