Today is the first day of spring: Warm temps, showers usher in season in DC region

Spring showers and warmth welcome the season 

What we know:

WASHINGTON - Warm weather and spring showers usher in the season across the D.C. region on Thursday, with temperatures in the low 70s expected by the afternoon.

A cold front will approach by the afternoon hours, knocking temperatures back down into the 60s. Rain is expected to push in around 2 p.m. from the west with showers likely lingering in the area through the evening. Wind gusts in the low 30s are possible tonight.

READ MORE: Cherry Blossom Festival kicks off Thursday, welcoming first day of Spring

Cooler days ahead

What's next:

Looking ahead, skies are expected to clear by Friday, with cooler highs in the mid-50s. The weekend will bring mild conditions, with Saturday seeing sunny skies and temperatures in the 60s, while Sunday cools slightly with highs in the 50s.

First day of spring over the last five years in the DMV

Dig deeper:

"The last five years have shown that temperatures are not consistent at all on the first day of spring (shocker...), but we have seen that most years have been dry," says FOX 5 meteorologist Cesar Cornejo.

Over the last five years, Cornejo said the first day of spring has only seen one day of measurable rainfall. That was back in 2020. "A total of 0.02" was recorded at DCA for the day. The only other year that saw rain on this day was 2022, where the airport recorded only a trace of rain (this does not count as measurable rainfall)," he added.

"As for temperatures, the range jumps from warm days in the 70s and 80s to brisk days in the 50s and 60s," Cornejo said. "The warmest day of the last five years has to go to 2020 where a temperature of 83° was recorded as the high. Our coldest morning was in 2023, the low for the day was 30°. That's a whopping 53° difference between our warmest high and coldest low over the last five years."