Summertime in April?

 

An April day in Montgomery County, Maryland

A “heat wave” is loosely defined as a minimum of three consecutive days of 90-degree heat. Since the nation’s capital doesn’t typically see its first 90-degree day of the year until on or around May 18, any 90-degree April heat is unusual.  So, having three days of it isn’t necessary to make it feel like a “heat wave” this early in the season.

2026: The nation’s capital has averaged roughly one 90-degree April day every three to four years over the last 30 years, according to NOAA. Prior to this month, there hadn’t been any 90-degree April heat since 2017. That’s what made the highs of 90° this past April 15 and 16 stand out among Washingtonians. On top of that, 14 of the first 18 days of the month were warmer than average. That development contributed to this month being more than 8° warmer than average through April 18.

2017: This April finished as the warmest on record in the nation’s capital having finished more than 5.5° warmer than average. There were nine days that featured highs in the 80s, roughly double the 30-year average of between three and four such days. To add to that, there was a record-tying high of 91° on April 29, 2017.

2010: Before this month, April 2010 was the last time two days saw 90-degree heat at National Airport. Highs of 90° occurred in the nation’s capital on April 6 and 7.  That helped make April 2010 DC’s warmest since 1994.

2002: The last time the nation’s capital experienced what would meet the summertime criteria of a “heat wave” was 24 years ago.  That’s when Washingtonians sweated through three consecutive days of 90-degree heat from April 16-18. DC’s high temperature of 95° on April 17, 2002, not only set a record high for the date, but that also tied the record high for the entire month of April.

1994: This April remains the fifth warmest on record in the nation’s capital. While it had only one day of 90-degree heat, there were seven days high temperatures were in the 80s.

Warmest April’s in Washington, D.C. (Source: NOAA)

1. 63.8° (2017)
2. 62.4° (2019)
3. 62.1° (2023, 1981)
5. 62.0° (1994)
6. 61.7° (2025)
7. 61.6° (1985)
8. 61.2° (1960)
9. 60.9° (2010)
10. 60.6° (1941)
11. 60.5° (2024)