What is remarkable about this July’s weather?

 

A fine day in the nation's capital

July 2026 will finish as a warmer and drier than average month in the nation’s capital. This month’s weather could be summarized into two distinct halves with record-setting heat over the first half of the month. However, that was followed by stretches of mild, September-like weather. 

This month got off to an exceptionally hot start in the DMV (DC, Maryland and Virginia). DC’s hottest July 4 on record was the signature weather event. It was the third in a stretch of three consecutive days of triple-digit heat. DC’s high of 103° on Independence Day broke the old record high of 100° that had stood since 1919. Two of these days also had low temperatures that remained in the low 80s, with a third such occurrence on July 16. That’s unusual in the nation’s capital, although it has occurred more frequently in recent decades due to the impacts of climate change and a more intense urban heat island effect.

The nation’s capital has felt more like September over the final third of July. There have been no warmer than average days since July 22. Although this month will still finish as a slightly warmer than average month, the predominantly cooler than average temperatures over the final week of July will prevent it from ranking among DC’s Top 10 warmest July’s. That’s remarkable considering how hot it was to start the month.

Despite several days of showers and storms around the DMV, July will still finish with below average rainfall (3.58” vs. 4.33”). That’s significant since 18 of the last 24 months have been drier than average in the nation’s capital. This will also be our second consecutive drier than average July – something that hasn’t happened in DC since the very hot 2011-2012 summers.

The nation’s capital hasn’t had a wetter than average month since January. The drier than average weather, combined with the warmer than average weather in June and July, has exacerbated local drought conditions. The latest Drought Monitor Index shows widespread moderate to severe drought conditions exist around the DMV.