A Beautiful July Sunset! |
Washington, D.C.’s longest heat wave in several years
concluded this past week when National Airport’s 13 day streak of 90 degree
heat ended on August 5. Not since 2011
had there been a streak of more than 11 consecutive days with high temperatures
of at least 90 degrees.
The hottest temperature measured during this nearly
two week stretch was 96 degrees on August 4.
Although this summer’s total of 38 days of 90 degree temperatures is the
highest since 2012, it’s near the seasonal average of 36 days in the Nation’s
Capital. While 2015 has featured
appreciably more 90 degree heat than last year (when there were only 24), no
record highs have been set this summer.
On the other hand, Baltimore has seen only 17 days of
at least 90 degrees and Dulles Airport has seen only 11 such days. While National Airport’s longest “heat wave”
of 2015 was the recent 13 day stretch with temperatures greater than 90
degrees, Dulles and BWI Airports haven’t seen more than three consecutive days
of at least 90 degrees this year. This
summer’s heat in the Nation’s Capital can at least partially be attributed to
the “urban heat island effect."
July’s average temperature at National Airport was almost
two degrees warmer than average at 81.5 degrees, while at Dulles Airport it was
only 76 degrees (almost a degree cooler than average). Baltimore’s average temperature in July was
exactly average at 77 degrees – combining daily highs and lows. Although being away from major urban areas
helps keep those locations cooler than downtown Washington, D.C., more study is
needed as to why the temperature is consistently so much warmer at National Airport (the official weather reporting site for the Nation’s Capital).
August often features an appreciable amount of hot weather, but average
high temperatures gradually fall from 88 degrees to 84 degrees by the end of
the month. So Washingtonians looking
forward to fall should be able to notice a difference to their liking as the
month wears on. That’s not to say that
conditions won’t remain ideal for a trip to the beach until well into
September. My colleagues and I on the
WUSA9 weather team will keep you apprised of the latest weather forecasts – including
when any 90 degree temperatures may return this summer.
Thanks, as always, for the interesting historical perspective, putting today's weather in context!
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