Andrea Salcedo

It was a long, harsh winter in D.C. We can finally call it over. After a long and often harsh season — punctuated by persistent cold, stubborn snow and ice, and a late-season chill this week — the pattern ahead has shifted. Milder air is taking hold, and there are no meaningful signs of a return to sustained cold or accumulating snow. That means we can officially declare the winter of 2025-2026 behind us. We’ve made it a tradition to mark the onset of spring once the threat of prolonged cold and lasting snow has passed. The forecast now clearly favors warmer days, budding trees and a steady march toward spring — even if a few bumps remain along the way. The forecast ahead is promising for flowers — and for fans of warmer weather. Highs surge into the 60s on Friday and reach the 70s by Sunday. But a warning: Springlike weather doesn’t mean sustained warmth. Next week, for example, daily highs bounce between the low 50s and mid-60s — a reminder that spring is a season of swings. Still, there is little sign of any return to sustained wintry weather.