Hot in D.C. !

The first significant heat wave of 2018 begins today in the Nation’s Capital.  A “heat wave” is defined as a minimum of three consecutive days with high temperatures of at least 90°.  Since several days with highs in the mid to upper 90s are on tap, it’s important to drink extra water and spend time indoors to prevent any heat-related stress.  D.C.’s hottest temperature so far this year was 95° on June 19. 

Although triple-digit heat is relatively rare in the Nation’s Capital, temperatures could reach 100° in parts of the D.C. Metro Area on July 1 and July 2.  The last time Washington, D.C. experienced triple-digit heat was on August 15, 2016 (100°).  In fact, August 15, 2016 was the third consecutive day that temperatures reached 100°/+ and that was only the third time that’s happened in the Nation’s Capital in the last 25 years.  The last time Dulles Airport in Sterling, VA and Baltimore, MD (measured at BWI Airport) reached 100° was July 25, 2016.

Although high temperatures will reach the low 90s in the D.C. Metro Area today, no record highs will be challenged.  Today is the sixth anniversary of D.C.’s hottest June temperature on record of 104° that occurred on June 29, 2012.  Below are the record high temperatures that could be approached in the D.C. Metro Area over the next few days.

June 30

Washington, D.C., National Airport (DCA): 100° (1959)
Dulles Airport, Sterling, VA (IAD): 98° (1964)
Baltimore, MD (BWI Airport): 100° (occurred most recently in 1959)

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July 1

DCA: 102° (1901)
IAD: 96° (2012)
BWI: 103° (1901)

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July 2

DCA: 101° (1898)
IAD: 98° (1966)
BWI: 103° (1901)

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July 3

DCA: 101° (occurred most recently in 1966)
IAD: 103° (1966)
BWI: 104° (1898)