Independence Day Weather Conditions

Area residents and tourists have been lucky this week with temperatures across the DC Metro Area feeling more like early September than late June.  Today’s expected high temperatures near 80° more closely resemble the average temperatures for Labor Day than the week before Independence Day.

That’s a big change from the often stifling heat and humidity the last week of June and early July.  Over the last 20 years, Washingtonians have experienced 100° heat at least once between June 24 and July 8 on four separate occasions.  Area residents have endured 95° heat in eight of the last 20 years over the same two-week period.

An exceptionally rare and record-setting heat wave occurred in the Nation’s Capital from June 28 through July 8, 2012.  High temperatures were at least 95° on 11 consecutive days, with high temperatures of 100° or greater on five of those days.  Washington, D.C. set a new record high temperature for the entire month on June 29 (104°) and DC’s second hottest temperature occurred on July 7, 2012 (105°).  That’s just one degree below the city’s hottest all-time temperature of 106° that’s occurred twice (in 1918 and 1930).

Rain and severe weather have also frequently interrupted the July 4 holiday.  Washington, D.C.’s wettest July 4 occurred in 2004 when 2.18” of rain fell.  Severe weather also affected an untold number of barbecues and fireworks displays in and around the DC Metro Area in 2006, 2007 and 2008.  Washington, D.C.’s record high on July 4 is 100° (1919), although it reached 99° in 1999, 2002 and 2012.  By comparison, the July 4 holiday last year was DC’s coolest (74°) since 1941.

Temperatures this week have been cooler than average with comfortable, fall-like relative humidity.  However, as nice as the weather this week has been, the Nation’s Capital could use some rain.  Washington, D.C. could have its third driest June on record if no more rain occurs this month.  

Washington, D.C.’s Driest Junes as measured at National Airport (Source: NWS)

1.  0.86” (1940)

2.  0.95” (1988)

3.  1.06” (as of June 26, 2017)

4.  1.21” (1976)

5.  1.24” (1954, 1894)