Independence Day

The weather will continue to steadily improve across the Nation’s Capital for the holiday weekend since the cold front that brought the Mid-Atlantic Region all the rain and severe weather yesterday has moved to our east.  Hurricane Arthur has also begun its northeastward trek out to sea so this seems like a good time to remember some of the distinctive weather the region has experienced on the July 4 holiday in recent years

Washingtonians have experienced some especially hot Independence Days in recent years.  It was 99 degrees in the Nation’s Capital on July 4 in 1999, 2002 and again in 2012.  Many will remember July 4, 2012, as being the week after the June 29 derecho as many struggled during a brutal heat wave without power.  As I discussed in a recent column, July 4, 2012 fell in the middle of a torrid 11 day stretch with high temperatures at or above 95 degrees in the Nation’s Capital. 

There have also been some rainy and cool Independence Day’s in the last 20 years.  For example, July 4, 1996, only saw a high temperature of 78 degrees according to National Weather Service data.  By comparison, the low temperature on July 4, 2002, was only 80 degrees.  In 2001, the Mid Atlantic Region saw a great deal of rainfall with 0.98” falling downtown during some heavy thunderstorms while a daily rainfall record of 1.87” occurred in northern Virginia at Dulles Airport.  Three years later on July 4, 2004, a daily rainfall record of 2.18” occurred in downtown Washington, D.C., as measured at National Airport. 

On July 4 last year weather was near average with a high of 89 degrees compared to an average high of 88.  Weather today will be a little cooler than average with highs only reaching the low to mid 80s.  After the high temperature of 99 degrees Washingtonians had Wednesday and the heavy rain we saw yesterday many people will be especially pleased with the sunny and comfortable weather ahead this weekend with highs in the 80s expected. 

Conditions at the Mid-Atlantic beaches will improve throughout the weekend as Arthur continues to head northeastward and out to sea.  However, swimmers and mariners will have to listen to lifeguards and local authorities as rip currents and coastal erosion will remain risk factors for much of the weekend.  So be safe and have a Happy Independence Day!