An early-July heat wave scorched the DC area with days of 100s and record-warm nighttime temperatures. Washington managed three record highs and two record lows, including a tie for all-time warmest low of 84 on July 3.
The three daytime records, from July 2-4 – highs of 102, 102, and 103 in DC – rank among the top handful of hot-weather streaks. Only three years have had higher max temperature averages than this year's 102.3 over three days: 1918 (102.7), 1936 (102.7), 1930 (103.7). As recently as 2024, the city also managed a 102.3 average over three days in July, as did 2012.
There are now 10 record highs this year, including every month from March through July.
The 103 on Independence Day is the second hottest temperature this early in the summer for DC, behind 104 on June 29, 2012 (derecho day). 102s of days prior tie for third hottest through July 4.
DC was far from alone with the records. Damascus, Maryland, picked up four from July 1-4, including a near all-time high of 98 on the Fourth. Dulles Airport had three record highs, while Baltimore/BWI had one. As you can see in the Climate Room, most stations east of the Blue Ridge had a record hottest Independence Day.
Below, details by day from July 1-4...
Saturday, July 4
It's the hottest July 4 since books began and the third consecutive record high for DC. Following an evening surge in heat, the high reached 103, the hottest of the stretch.
This is only the second time the city has seen three days in a row of 102 or higher, in addition to an infamous heat and drought year in 1930.
Along with DC's 103, it reached 102 at BWI Marshall, and 99 at Dulles. All are high marks for Independence Day in modern history.
Temperatures have been quite consistent over recent days, although humidity did come down somewhat today, which meant a little lower peak heat indexes. DC peaked around 108 while Dulles made it to 110.
Friday, July 3
An intense heat wave continued roasting the region Friday. For the second day in a row, a high of 102 at Reagan National set a record. It reached 98 at Dulles Airport, and 102 at BWI Marshall.
DC's record, as set at National, bests the 101 last set in 1966 on the date. It becomes the ninth record high of the year for the city.
DC's heat index reached at least 113 at 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. with a temperature of 102 and a dew point of 72. Some locations briefly reached or surpassed 115 heat index.
In addition to the record high in DC on Friday, the morning low was 84. That's both a new record for the date and ties the all-time record for warm lows, last accomplished in 2011. Dulles with 78 and BWI with 79 both also broke morning warmth records.
The combination of high and low led to an average daily temperature of 93 for DC, which tied for the second hottest day on record.
Thursday, July 2
The second day of this extreme heat wave saw temperatures reach 102 at Reagan National, 98 at Dulles Airport, and 101 at BWI Marshall.
It was a new record high for DC, as measured at National, surpassing 101 in 1898, and it became the eighth record high this year. The 98 at Dulles tied a record for the date there.
Heat indexes were a touch hotter than Wednesday, reaching at least 111 in DC, 109 at Dulles, and 110 at BWI.
DC's low of 80 Thursday morning was also a record for the date.
Wednesday, July 1
Day one of the heat wave on Wednesday saw highs reach 98 at Reagan National Airport and 97 at Dulles and BWI airports. Andrews Air Force Base in Camp Springs, Md., reached 99 degrees.
The high of 97 at Dulles was a record for the date, beating 96 in 2012.
Peak heat indexes of 105 to 110 were common across the area, including 110 in DC, thanks to extremely humid dew points in the mid-70s.
College Park, Md., recorded a scorching heat index of 114 according the Maryland Mesonet.
A bit of an overperformance in the heat and humidity today. Several mesonet sites crept into the upper 90s. The 114° peak heat index at the College Park location appears to be a network record. #MdWx pic.twitter.com/EmADZveXEz
— Matt Miziorko (@SnarkyEM) July 1, 2026
