DC region hit with excessive heat warning as feels-like temps surge past 110 in some spots

Dangerous heat is keeping its firm grip on the D.C. region Tuesday as heat index values surged past 110 degrees in certain areas, leading the National Weather Service to issue an excessive heat warning until 8 p.m.

According to the NWS, a number of locations along I-95 and points eastward experienced feels-like temperatures at or above 110 degrees, and high heat index values will continue to pose a threat into the evening. Very warm and humid conditions will stick around into the overnight hours, the weather service said.

It’s the second day in a row the D.C. area has faced heat index values in at least the triple digits.

The heat is also fueling the potential for isolated, scattered thunderstorms though Tuesday evening. In north central Anne Arundel County, the weather service issued a flash flood warning until 6:45 p.m., as thunderstorms were producing as much as 1.5 to 2.5 inches of rain per hour.

According to 7News First Alert Senior Meteorologist Brian van de Graaff, the extreme heat will continue to bake the National Capital Region on Wednesday and Thursday before easing a bit on Friday.

The heat and humidity is forecast to feel 105 or higher Wednesday afternoon, van de Graaff said. He added that there’s a risk for rain and storms by the evening hours that will continue into Thursday, as the remnants of Beryl move over the Great Lakes.

D.C. is under an extended heat emergency through Thursday, according to Mayor Muriel Bowser. Here’s a map of cooling centers in the District.

“We’ll round out the week with cooler highs in the 80s, but humidity levels will remain sky-high making it feel closer to 90,” van de Graaff said, adding that a stalled weather boundary to the east will provide chances for clouds and rain. He said pockets of heavy rain could lead to isolated flooding on Friday.

Current weather:

7News First Alert Forecast:

TUESDAY EVENING: EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING (D.C. METRO, SOUTHERN MARYLAND)
HEAT ADVISORY UNTIL 8 P.M.
Partly sunny, isolated p.m. storms
Temperatures: 90s to 80s
Winds: South 5-10 mph
The National Weather Service has posted upgraded areas inside and around the beltway, along with all of southern Maryland to an excessive heat warning. The rest of the region is under a heat advisory until 8 p.m. Expect extreme heat index values ranging from 105 to 110 degrees over the warned areas.

OVERNIGHT: Partly Cloudy
Lows: 76-84
Winds: South 5 mph
It will be a very warm and very humid night with more neighborhoods not falling below 80 degrees inside the beltway.

WEDNESDAY: HEAT ADVISORY NOON-8 P.M.
Partly sunny, scattered storms
Highs: 93-98
Heat Index: 100-108
Winds: South 10-15, gusts to 25 mph
Plan for yet another very hot and very humid day with feels-like temperatures back over 105 during the afternoon. A heat advisory has been posted for most of the DMV beginning at noon and extending until 8 p.m. The remnants of Beryl will be moving over the Great Lakes late in the day and will provide the risk for rain and storms by evening. The greatest risk for severe weather should be well north of the 7News viewing area. 

THURSDAY: Partly sunny, scattered showers and storms
Highs: 90-95
Heat Index: Around 100
Winds: Southwest 5-10 mph
Our hot and humid weather pattern continues with higher chances for rain and storms. 

FRIDAY: Mostly cloudy, scattered showers and storms
Highs: 82-87
Winds: South 5-10 mph
We’ll round out the week with cooler highs in the 80s, but humidity levels will remain sky-high making it feel closer to 90 degrees. A stalled weather boundary to our east will provide us with clouds and rain chances. Pockets of heavy rain could lead to isolated flooding. 

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Thomas Robertson

Thomas Robertson is an Associate Producer and Web Writer/Editor at WTOP. After graduating in 2019 from James Madison University, Thomas moved away from Virginia for the first time in his life to cover the local government beat for a small daily newspaper in Zanesville, Ohio.

Matt Small

Matt joined WTOP News at the start of 2020, after contributing to Washington’s top news outlet as an Associated Press journalist for nearly 18 years.

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