Always a human at the helm: Updated around-the-clock by Capital Weather meteorologists.
Happening now: DC reached a record high of 102 for the second straight day. Steamy 80s to near 90 this evening with a slight chance of an evening storm.
What's next? 100-plus again on a brutal July Fourth, with code red to code purple air quality and a late-day storm chance. A little less intense into Sunday. Nighttime lows within a few degrees of 80 are also oppressive, raising heat exhaustion risk for those without air conditioning.
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Forecast in detail
Tonight: Very small chance of an isolated storm, especially northern Maryland and north. Otherwise, mainly clear and oppressive near-record lows within a few degrees of 80. DC could again – after doing so this morning – challenge the city's all-time record warm low of 84. Confidence: Medium-High
[Heat alerts and how to stay safe]
We're forecasting #AirQuality codes from orange 🔶 to purple 🟪 in the #DC-#Baltimore region this weekend. Extreme heat & particle pollution from large fireworks displays may create unhealthy conditions.
— Clean Air Partners (@CleanAirPartner) July 3, 2026
As you celebrate America's 250th, 🎆 monitor your local air quality. pic.twitter.com/rIq0MMzIE1
Tomorrow (Fourth of July): Prioritize hydration, shade, and cooling time with air conditioning. Mostly to partly sunny with afternoon high about 98 to 103. Feeling as hot as about 110 with high humidity, preventing our body from cooling naturally via sweat evaporation. Scattered showers and storms may pop starting mid- or late afternoon, mainly after 3 or 4 p.m., as (welcome) clouds increase. Air quality will reach at least code orange in the heat of the day and then get worse as fireworks start up. Confidence: Medium
Fireworks: Near 90 through sunset, and we'll have to watch for some chance of scattered strong to severe storms during the evening. Storms would help cool things off, but any that develop could be capable of severe winds, and of course we don't want any damage or injuries. Confidence: Medium
Tomorrow night: The chance of scattered showers and storms continues through around midnight. Otherwise, skies are mostly cloudy and lows are in the muggy 70s (some improvement!). Confidence: Medium
Sunday: Highs are down a touch but still in the very hot mid- to upper 90s with partly sunny skies. Humidity may lower a tad, but heat index values still probably reach 105 to 110. Fairly probable we see at least scattered afternoon or evening storms. Confidence: Medium
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A look ahead
Sunday night: A good chance of at least scattered showers and storms into the late evening, perhaps predawn hours as well. Skies are mostly cloudy as lows dip into the cooler upper 60s to low 70s. Confidence: Medium
Showers and storms appear likely at times Monday as skies stay mostly cloudy. Highs are turning more reasonable, in the mid-80s to near 90 (about average for this time of year). Confidence: Medium
Skies are partly sunny Tuesday and highs may only be near the mid-80s. Showers and storms try to wait until midafternoon and later. There should be fewer of them and intensity may be lower as well. Confidence: Low-Medium
Today’s daily digit — 0/10: What. Find me a point here. Dare ya. You got nothing, just like this weather. Ughhh. | 🤚 Your call?
The digit is a somewhat subjective rating of the day’s weather, on a 0-to-10 scale.
