A mild one, meteorologically speaking Although the month of February was warm, it was not Washington's warmest February. And January and December were enjoyably mild, but neither was Washington's mildest. But taken together, the three months form the period that meteorologists consider to be winter, and they helped confirm popular impressions: This year's "meteorological winter" was rare. It was the warmest in 80 years, and the third-warmest on record. February was the fourth-warmest since official records began in 1871. January tied for 17th-warmest and December tied for sixth. But over the three months combined, the average temperature was 43.3. The winter of 1931-32 was a good deal warmer, 44.6, and set the record. The only other warmer winter was in 1889-90, with 44.3. Not only did temperatures rise this season, but snow did not fall, with only two inches measured at Reagan National Airport. But 1931-32 had even less, one inch, and 1889-90 had 1.5 inches.