Sweating through late summer

 

A stellar late-summer day in DC

Although no more heat waves are expected this month in the nation’s capital, there have been some memorable late August heat waves. Some have occurred recently.

2024: This was DC’s third hottest summer on record. Record-setting triple-digit heat occurred on August 28. That’s when the high temperature climbed to 101° as part of a four-day heat wave through August 29. A “heat wave” is loosely defined as three or more consecutive days of 90-degree heat. Not only was that a daily record high for Washington, D.C., but was also DC’s first instance of triple-digit heat during the final 10 days of August since 1987.

2018: This was one of the rare summers that August was warmer than July in the nation’s capital. August ended with a notable late-season heat wave with highs in the 90s on five consecutive days (August 27-31). The hottest day was August 29 with a high/low temperature of 94°/79°. While no record highs were set, record high-low temperatures were set on three consecutive days (August 29-August 31). That means the daily low temperature remained unusually warm.

2010: This summer finished as DC’s hottest on record and included four days of triple-digit heat. August 2010 ended with an unusual heat wave that lingered into September. DC’s average daily high/low temperatures were 94.5°/73.3° between August 29 and September 3.

1998: This August was DC’s hottest month of the year for the first time since 1984. Ironically, the hottest weather of the month didn’t occur until the final third of the month. Nine of the final 10 days saw 90-degree heat in the nation’s capital. A record-tying high temperature of 97° occurred on August 25.