Always a human at the helm: Updated around-the-clock by Capital Weather meteorologists.
Happening now: The heat intensifies this afternoon with sunshine and highs in the upper 90s to near 100. The heat index peaks near 105 to 110.
What’s next? Highs have a chance for 100 degrees or higher tomorrow through Saturday July 4th. Heat indexes surge to near 110 at times, maybe even a bit higher in spots. Storm chances may grow by the Fourth.
Today’s daily digit — 2/10: It's Day One of a severe heat wave. Take the heat seriously, stay safe, and get used to several days of low daily digits. | 🤚 Your call?
The digit is a somewhat subjective rating of the day’s weather, on a 0-to-10 scale.
Forecast in detail
Today (Wednesday): Afternoon highs are headed for the upper 90s to near 100 under mostly sunny skies (DC's record high for the date is 102). And with high humidity (dew points in the 70s) the afternoon heat index should peak around 105 to 110. Light winds from the south and southwest. Confidence: High
[Heat alerts and how to stay safe]
Tonight: Sweltering evening 90s only fall to the upper 70s and low 80s overnight as skies continue mostly clear. Confidence: High
Tomorrow (Thursday): Mostly sunny and about as hot as it can get around here. Highs aim for around 100 to 105 (DC's record for the date is 101; its all-time record is 106). Factor in very high humidity (dew points in the low to mid-70s) and the heat index could top out near or above 110. Confidence: High
Tomorrow night: About the same as tonight. Muggy and gross evening 90s only drop back to overnight lows in the upper 70s to mid-80s. Confidence: High
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A look ahead
Friday is a carbon copy of Thursday as far as the temperature forecast is concerned. Highs should again top out around 100 to 105 (DC's record for the date is 101 again; its all-time record is 106). With the very high humidity, the heat index may reach near or above 110. It's possible that high pressure weakens just enough to allow a chance of an isolated late-day thunderstorm. Friday night lows only fall to the mid-70s to low 80s. Confidence: Medium-High
Saturday July 4th isn't much better. It's still super hot with highs in the upper 90s to low 100s, and afternoon heat indexes could reach 105 to 110. Storm chances are uncertain but it's probably a higher chance than Friday. For now we'll call it a chance of isolated to scattered late-day storms. Evening temperatures stay up in the 90s unless storms cool some locations to the 80s. Confidence: Medium
[DC's fireworks supershow this year could be a smoke-filled mess]
Sunday probably trends another small step less hot with highs in the mid- to upper 90s. The heat index could still climb above 100, so it's still pretty brutal. Scattered late-day storms are possible. Confidence: Low-Medium
The heat should relent some more early next week, with highs somewhere in the upper 80s to mid-90s and continued chances for showers and storms.
