Always a human at the helm: Updated around-the-clock by Capital Weather meteorologists.
Happening now: Quickly rising through the 70s and 80s this morning. Most spots are near or above 90 before noon. Heat advisory starts at 11 a.m. with sizzling afternoon highs in the upper 90s to low 100s as the heat index peaks near 105.
What’s next? Almost or as hot tomorrow, with a smoky haze possible. A bit less hot Friday and more so this weekend. Both weekend days have a chance for scattered showers and storms at some point.
Today’s daily digit — 0/10: Extreme heat. No likey. | 🤚 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): Mostly sunny and extremely hot with high pressure entrenched overhead. Highs head for the upper 90s to low 100s with the heat index peaking near 105 thanks to high humidity (dew points near 70). Winds come from the west around 10 mph. The record highs for the date are 102 in DC and at BWI, and 99 at Dulles. There could be some wildfire smoke in the air today but most of it should stay elevated well above the ground level, limiting its impact on air quality. Confidence: High
[How to stay safe in the heat]
Tonight: Evening readings slowly fall back through the 90s under mostly clear skies. Continued muggy overnight with lows in the mid-70s to near 80. Confidence: High
Hourly Forecast | Pollen, Air & UV
Tomorrow (Thursday): Partly to mostly sunny with temperatures soaring once again. Highs look like the upper 90s to near 100. However, there is some potential for wildfire smoke to hold readings back a couple of degrees, in which case some spots could stall in the mid-90s. This time, there's a better chance of smoke closer to ground level that reduces air quality. Light winds variable in direction in the morning come from the west around 10 mph again in the afternoon. Just a slight chance of a late afternoon or evening thunderstorm. Confidence: Medium-High
[Heat wave could push DC's 100-degree days deeper into record books]
Tomorrow night: Slight chance of an evening thunderstorm. Otherwise it's another steamy evening with temperatures dropping back through the 90s into the upper 80s under partly cloudy skies. Remaining muggy overnight with lows in the mid- to upper 70s. Confidence: High
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A look ahead
We should take the edge off the heat just a bit on Friday, as the dome of hot high pressure starts to retreat. Highs aim for the low to mid-90s with partly to mostly sunny skies. Humidity should come down a bit as well. Could see a few showers or thunderstorms pop up Friday evening or overnight with lows around 70 to 75. Confidence: Medium
Pretty typical temperatures this weekend with highs in the mid-80 to low 90s. With lower pressure and humidity trending higher again, both days have a chance for scattered showers and storms at some point, especially during the afternoon into evening. Saturday night lows in the upper 60s to low 70s. Confidence: Low-Medium
