The heat in Washington — which went into overdrive in mid-June — is becoming insufferable.
Tuesday became the fifth day in a row hitting at least 97 degrees and the 22nd day reaching 90 degrees or higher this year. Heat indexes, factoring in oppressive humidity levels, climbed to around 110 — higher than just about anywhere in the United States. The brutal conditions prompted the National Weather Service to upgrade D.C.’s heat advisory to an excessive-heat warning.
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The nights, meanwhile, have been sultry. We’ve already posted several instances of lows of 80 degrees or higher this summer after a five-year pause. Before the year 2000, nights this warm were exceptionally rare.
The hot days and steamy nights add up to the second-hottest start to the summer on record.
While there might be a break in the heat Friday, it won’t last. The hot weather pattern probably resumes over the weekend and intensifies next week.
According to the Climate Shift Index from Climate Central, a science communications firm, human-caused climate change has made the recent heat in the D.C. area twice as probable.
The second-warmest summer on record so far
Using the meteorological definition, summer began June 1. The current average temperature of 80.5 degrees since then trails only 2010’s 80.8 degrees among the hottest years as of this date. Rounding out the top five are 1994 (80.1), 2011 (79.4) and 2012 (78.9).
Since Jan. 1, this is also the second-warmest year on record to date with an average temperature of 58.7 degrees, trailing only 2012’s 59.3 degrees (that year went on to become the hottest on record). The United States is also having its second-warmest year on record so far.
Sweltering days
Since we turned on the heat in mid-June, abnormally hot afternoon highs have been the norm. The average since June 1 of 90 degrees ranks as the third highest on record to date, behind 2010 (90.4) and 1994 (90.6).
The 22 days with highs reaching at least 90 is eight ahead of the norm to date. Typically, it’s not until late July that we’ve seen this many 90 degree days. Last year, as of this date we only had 10 such days.
In addition to all of the 90 degree days, we’ve racked up nine with a high of at least 97 degrees, including the first 100 degree day since 2016. To date, the count is behind only 1991, which had nine, and 2012 at 12.
We’ve now had five days in a row with highs of at least 97 and will probably bring the streak to six days Wednesday — tying for the second longest on record, trailing only the tally of seven in 1953.
Sultry nights
Low temperatures so far this summer rank as the second hottest on record to date. The average low of 71 degrees is only slightly cooler than 2010’s 71.2 degrees — which had the warmest nights to date.
We’ve already logged four nights with lows at or above 80 degrees, with three coming between Saturday and Monday. We’ll probably add another Wednesday, which would bring the total to five. The most lows of 80 or higher on record in a year is seven, last done in 2016.
When will it end?
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The current heat wave, which began July 4, will probably end Friday. That’s when clouds and some tropical moisture pulled north by Hurricane Beryl’s remnants will briefly overtake the area, lowering temperatures somewhat (but not humidity). The chance of rain — much-needed because of growing drought conditions — should keep highs below 90, although the forecast could still shift drier and hotter.
Beyond that, highs at or above 90 will probably return for at least the next two weeks. With average highs of 90 until July 27, hot weather is expected. But computer models project that temperatures have a good chance to rise above the norm, well into the 90s to near 100 at times.
Jason Samenow contributed to this report.
FAQs
The District has posted six record warm lows since May, including four during July so far. The escalation in the frequency of warm, humid nights is a symptom of human-caused climate change, driven by both urbanization and increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases.
Is this the hottest summer in DC? ›
The average number of 90-degree days in a year is 40 days. Overall, the average temperature this summer sits at 81.9 degrees, almost a full degree ahead of 2010 at this date --- making this year the hottest summer on record to date.
Is 2024 the hottest summer on record? ›
Global surface temperatures have set a 13-month streak of monthly records from June 2023 and June 2024. However, with more than two thirds of July temperature now available, it is looking increasingly likely that July 2024 will break that streak, coming in as the second warmest on record after July 2023.
What is the record breaking heat in Washington DC? ›
Factoring in humidity, the heat index soared to a sweltering 108 degrees. Outdoor activities were canceled and cooling centers were opened. D.C. has seen only 12 days with temperatures of 104 degrees or higher. The record high remains 106 degrees, set in 1918 and matched in 1930.
Is DC more humid than NYC? ›
There's no major difference. New York City is about 5 degrees (F) colder in the winter than Washington, DC, and has a few inches more of snow. In the summer, Washington, DC is about 5 degrees warmer than New York, and has a higher humidity level, making summers in Washington more uncomfortable than those in New York.
What is the hottest month in DC? ›
Average Temperature in Washington, D.C.
The hottest month of the year in Washington, D.C. is July, with an average high of 88°F and low of 71°F.
Is Washington, D.C.. miserable in August? ›
The average high temperature in August in Washington D.C. is about 86 degrees Fahrenheit and the worst of the summer heat begins to subside quickly as the weeks wane on. Many find that August is the ideal time to escape the heat and head to the air-conditioned museums that can be found throughout the city.
What is the summer forecast for D.C. in 2024? ›
What to know about heat & humidity for summer 2024. The jet stream pattern also means the D.C. area shouldn't see a lot of intense heat. Expect about 38 to 46 days of 90° temps (the average is 45) but no 100° days. But a more humid season will mean heat indexes rising above 100°.
Is 2024 the hottest summer in Maryland? ›
July 2024 was the 2nd warmest on record in Baltimore with an average temperature of 82.2°. It fell right behind July 2020 with an average temperature of 82.6°. About half of the days in July had afternoon high temperatures at least 3° above average levels! There were 5 days with temperatures at or above 100°!
Is July 2024 hotter than 2023? ›
In the Northern Hemisphere, July 2024 also was warmest on record at 1.51°C (2.72°F) above average. This is 0.01°C (0.02°F) warmer than July 2023. The Northern Hemisphere land temperature also ranked warmest on record for the month, while the Northern Hemisphere Ocean temperature was second warmest for July.
The year 2023 was the warmest year since global records began in 1850 at 1.18°C (2.12°F) above the 20th-century average of 13.9°C (57.0°F). This value is 0.15°C (0.27°F) more than the previous record set in 2016.
Where is the hottest place on Earth? ›
Officially the Hottest: Death Valley, California
At 134 degrees Fahrenheit (56.7 degrees Celsius), this reading was widely recognized as the highest recorded temperature. Over 100 years later, similar records have been set inside Death Valley, as well as in other places on this list.
Is this D.C. hottest summer? ›
About Summer 2024
The DC area broke a heat record yesterday. It's forecasted to break another one today. It broke a record back on June 23. And it would likely break the high temperature mark tomorrow, too, except for an unusually hot July 16 back in 1988.
What was the coldest day in Washington DC history? ›
From the coldest day record — 15 degrees below zero, recorded on Feb. 11, 1899 — to one of the warmest ones — with a record high of 98 degrees registered nine weeks ago on Oct. 2 — Washington's historic temperatures during the colder months fluctuate wildly.
What is the hottest state on record? ›
California. Death Valley's Greenland Ranch holds the record for the highest temperature ever recorded at 134 degrees in 1913.
DC Heat Wave: Hottest temperatures in 7 years ...FOX 5 DChttps://www.fox5dc.com ›
WASHINGTON - This summer has been hot, no doubt about that. Since records began at what is now Reagan National Airport back in the 1940s, this July has been tra...
The DC area broke a heat record yesterday. It's forecasted to break another one today. It broke a record back on June 23. And it would likely break the high...
The temperature could reach 100 degrees in several Northeast cities, the hottest weather in years, as the heat wave intensifies on Sunday.
High pressure caused the air below it to descend rapidly, warming and drying along the way, creating hot temperatures that stretched over days. A sequence of steamy nights during this heat wave likely made it feel even hotter outside, even though they didn't actually boost daytime temperatures, Bumbaco said.
Why is summer 2024 so hot? ›
The June 2024 heat wave was unusually early and long-lasting compared with typical patterns for the Northeast U.S. It was caused by a large high-pressure system called a heat dome that extended from the ground more than 10 miles up through the atmosphere. A heat dome is both a cause and an effect of extreme heat.
Why has this summer been so hot? ›
The deadly heat has not been unexpected. Forecasters have been warning of a searing summer for months due to the troubling combination of a budding La Niña and a world warming due to fossil fuel pollution. Last summer was the warmest on record globally and one of the warmest for several states.
