Washington (DC) weather in November
November in Washington: cool, a little rain, with clean air — a great time to visit.
Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis
#7 of 12 months in Washington · #792 of 1413 destinations to visit in November · comfort 71/100 (tier B)
- Days
- 14°C
- Nights
- 3°C
- Wet days
- 6
- Sun
- 7.3 h
- Humidity
- 68%
- Daylight
- 10 h

Traveller notes on Washington in November
Other months in Washington
June here is hot and humid but not yet August, and regulars are precise about the pattern: mid to high eighties by day, sixties at night, and afternoon thunderstorms that come out of nowhere, rain hard for a few minutes and leave the air more humid than before. Our row gives 29.7C reading as 32C over 18.6C nights, with 107.1mm across 9.4 days, which is eleven millimetres a time. Their packing advice follows the humidity - loose natural fibres in light colours, because synthetics turn into plastic bags - and their warning is the opposite problem, that indoor air conditioning is usually set far too cold. The record: humidity 69 percent, 11.4 hours of sun and AQI 68.
Regulars time this city by the school calendar. Labour Day is the first Monday of September and ends the summer season; October brings the school groups back in force; the fortnight between is the quietest good weather of the year. The weather follows the same split - the first week is still summer, mid-80s with the humidity to match, and the drier air does not usually arrive until mid-to-late month. Our row averages 27.8C reading as 30C at 74 percent humidity with a 16.1C dew point, over 17.3C nights, and 108.4mm of rain across 8.1 days. Book the second half if you can. The record: 8.6 hours of sun and AQI 47.
Washington DC-forum threads on late May draw a before/after line at Memorial Day: earlier in the month runs fair and warm with just the odd afternoon thunderstorm, while posters note humidity climbs noticeably by late May and into June, ahead of July and August's muggier stretch. The record backs the thunderstorm read more than the 'dry spring' reputation: 137mm of rain across more than twelve days, the wettest month on this destination's calendar, alongside 24.6C days, 13.4C nights and 9.3 hours of sun. Good jacket-optional weather, but pack for rain more than forum nostalgia about 'before the humidity' suggests.
Washington DC forum threads describe January as genuinely the coldest month, with average highs in the low 40s Fahrenheit and lows in the mid-20s, plus real wind chill that makes it feel colder still. A typical winter brings around 6 inches of snow total for the month in smaller spurts rather than one big dump, though posters noted an occasional major coastal storm can bring far more at once - DC still gets meaningfully less snow than cities like Boston given its more southern, coastal-influenced position. The consistent packing advice: several thinner warm layers under a proper coat work better than one very thick jacket, plus wool accessories that handle wet weather better than cotton.
Year-round notes are on Washington's overview. Add your own note from Washington's card on the map.
Washington climate normals — November
Monthly averages from ERA5 reanalysis. AQI is the mean US Air Quality Index for the month.
Crowds in Washington in November
How busy the place itself is — school and mass holidays, the months an editor tagged, and how sought-after the weather makes them. Never part of the comfort score.
Peak crowdsMarine Corps Marathon, Thanksgiving, Thanksgiving break in United States(estimated)
Peak crowdsBusyShoulder seasonQuiet
Best months for Washington's weather
Ranked by this destination's own climate comfort score across the year — a different thing from how busy it gets (see Crowds above).
Fair weatherWashington's best weather comes in April, May and October — separate windows, not one continuous season.
Best weatherFair weatherToughest weather
What's on in Washington in November
Recurring seasonal events, natural spectacles, closures and holidays — curated and sourced.
- Rule
Washington Monument timed tickets
1 Jan – 31 DecBook earlyThe lift to the top runs on timed tickets released online a month ahead, with a small same-day batch in the morning. The African American History museum works the same way in the busy months. Source ↗
- Nature
Fall colour
20 Oct – 15 Nov · usuallyAutumn colourRock Creek Park and the Virginia side of the Potomac turn from late October into the second week of November, a fortnight later than the Blue Ridge an hour west.
- Festival
Marine Corps Marathon
22 Oct – 2 Nov · usuallySporting eventCrowdedClosuresTwenty-odd thousand runners past the monuments and over the Potomac bridges on a Sunday at the end of October. Bridges and river-side roads close from before dawn. Source ↗
- Holiday
Thanksgiving
25–29 NovNational holidayCrowdedClosuresThanksgiving, the fourth Thursday of November, is the country's biggest travel holiday: airports and highways are at their busiest on the Wednesday before and the Sunday after, and on the day itself offices, banks and many shops close. Source ↗
Nearby, and something's on
Within 300 km of Washington — a day trip or a short hop — with something on this month. Never part of the comfort score.
Where is Washington?
Washington in November — FAQ
- Is November a good time to visit Washington?
- November in Washington: cool, a little rain, with clean air — a great time to visit. It ranks #7 of 12 months for Washington on SeasonMap's comfort score (71/100).
- What is the weather like in Washington in November?
- In November, Washington averages a daily high of 14.4°C and a low of 3.1°C, with about 75.7 mm of rain over roughly 6.3 rainy days.
- What is the air quality in Washington in November?
- Washington has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 36 in November.
Within 300 km: Philadelphia's Fall colour around 18 Oct – 12 Nov, and Baltimore's Chesapeake blue crab season on 1 Apr – 30 Nov.