June Coming to a Hot Conclusion

High temperatures today will soar to the low to mid 90s for a fourth consecutive day in the Nation’s Capital, making for the longest stretch of 90° June heat in more than two years.  DC’s first heat wave since late May, has come at a fitting time the week before the Independence Day holiday.

Washington, D.C. averages 36 days of 90°/+ temperatures every year.  Today will be DC’s twelfth day of 90° heat in 2019.  For a third consecutive year, the Nation’s Capital is having a heat wave that began during the last week of June and will continue into early July.  Two years ago, Washingtonians had a six-day heat wave from June 29 through July 4, 2017, with the hottest temperature being 94° on June 30.  Meanwhile, from June 29 through July 5, 2018 DC residents endured a similar heat wave with a high of 97° on July 3.

Although those heat waves began in June, they didn’t become an official heat wave until early July.  A “heat wave” is a minimum of three consecutive days with high temperatures of at least 90°.  Prior to this week, DC’s last June heat wave was June 11 – 14, 2017.  As hot as the weather was during the aforementioned periods, Washingtonians haven’t had a record high temperature in June in more than five years, since June 17, 2014 (97°).  DC residents haven’t experienced triple-digit June heat since June 29, 2012 (104°).

Average temperatures rise in Washington, D.C. throughout the month of June and into July so it’s not unusual for there to be heat waves this time of year.  The hottest time of the year in the Nation’s Capital, based on average temperatures, is July 7 – 22 when DC’s average high/low temperatures are 89°/71°.  My colleagues and I on the WUSA9 Weather Team expect high temperatures to remain in the 90s through the Fourth of July holiday.  That would make the current heat wave 10 days long and DC’s longest since the summer of 2016.

Some safety tips to remember during periods of extreme heat are to exercise and spend time outdoors early in the day when temperatures are cooler.  It’s also important to drink plenty of water and use sunscreen.  Your pets need a lot of water, too, and it’s vital to never leave your children or pets in a parked car.  Light colored, loose fitting clothing is also more comfortable on hot, sunny days.  The late afternoon and early evening hours are the hottest part of the day – so that’s a great time to spend in an air-conditioned environment.