How much does it usually rain in Washington DC in August?
DC already saw 1.74 inches of rain, nearly half of August’s average, triggering flash-flood warnings.
Washington DC felt some brief reprieve from its drought conditions Sunday when heavy rain fell in the city, sending the District to a flash flood warning.
DC’s rainfall totals have fallen short of its averages in 11 of the past 12 months, but Sunday kickstarted August with the most rainfall in a single day in months.
Here’s what to know about Sunday’s weather event and what’s to come in the days ahead.
DC gets highest rainfall total of 2026
DC received 1.74 inches of rain Sunday, according to the National Weather Service.
It’s the most rain that has fallen in a single day in DC all year, and the most precipitation since it snowed 1.99 inches on Jan. 25.
On average, DC gets 3.54 inches of rain in August, meaning the city is already nearly halfway to its monthly rainfall total after just the first two days of the month.
The heavy rain sent DC and some surrounding areas into a flash flood warning, which ended Sunday night.
Will it rain more this week in Washington DC?
DC should expect some “spotty morning showers” Monday, along with “scattered showers and storms developing this afternoon and evening,” according to Capital Weather.
Tuesday could be the only day all week DC does not see any rain, the site reports.
“A stalled frontal boundary over the Mid-Atlantic will create daily chances for showers and thunderstorms throughout the region as well as increasing humidity,” the National Weather Service says. “Temperatures gradually rise to the low 90s over the metros by the end of the week, with heat indices approaching 100.”
Mike Stunson is a Washington DC-based reporter writing all things trending, breaking and DMV related for USA TODAY’s DC Connect Team.