Live · KDCA · reported 15 min ago
Barometric pressure in Washington, DC today
29.98inHg
1015.3 hPa (mb)
- 3-hour change
- +0.06 inHg · +2.0 hPa
- 24-hour range
- 29.85 – 29.99 inHg
- Station (absolute) pressure
- 29.96 inHg
- Barometer dial reads
- Change · near normal
Washington at a glance
How elevation shapes the reading in Washington
Washington is about 23 ft (7 m) above sea level. That is close to sea level, so the pressure you stand in and the sea-level figure in the forecast are nearly the same.
The reading above is the altimeter setting from Washington/Reagan-National Arpt (KDCA), 5 km (3 mi) from the city center. It is the station’s measured pressure corrected to sea level, which is the number weather reports, apps and TV forecasts use, so you can compare Washington with any other city.
Washington elevation and what it means · Sea-level vs station pressure
| Elevation | 23 ft · 7 m |
|---|---|
| Weather station | Washington/Reagan-National Arpt (KDCA) |
| Station elevation | 13 ft · 4 m |
| Standard air pressure at this elevation | 29.90 inHg · 1012 hPa |
| Air pressure vs sea level | 100% |
| Water boils at | 212.0 °F · 100.0 °C |
| Time zone | America/New York |
Reading the barometer
Is the pressure in Washington high or low?
Today’s reading is near normal. Weather pressure is quoted at sea level, so the same scale works for Washington and everywhere else.
- Very low Stormy < 29.50
- Low Clouds, rain 29.50–29.80
- Normal Changeable 29.80–30.20
- High Fair 30.20–30.50
- Very high Dry, clear > 30.50
Frequently asked questions
What is the barometric pressure in Washington today?
The live reading at the top of this page is the latest sea-level pressure reported by Washington/Reagan-National Arpt (KDCA), 5 km (3 mi) from the city center. It updates about every 10 minutes; the graph shows the last 24 hours.
What is normal barometric pressure in Washington?
Weather reports for Washington use sea-level pressure, so “normal” is the same as anywhere: about 29.92 inHg (1013 hPa), with most days between 29.60 and 30.30 inHg (1002–1026 hPa). Readings above 30.20 inHg are high pressure; below 29.80 inHg is low pressure.
Why does a barometer in Washington read lower than the forecast?
Washington is close to sea level (about 23 ft), so absolute and sea-level pressure differ by only about 0.02 inHg (1 hPa). A larger gap usually means the barometer needs to be calibrated against the reading on this page.
Is the pressure in Washington rising or falling?
See the trend badge under the reading: it compares the latest report with the one three hours earlier. Falling pressure usually means clouds, wind or rain on the way; rising pressure means clearing and more settled weather.