The heat in the D.C. area reached record proportions Friday, as two of the area’s three airports reported broken high temperature records for this date, while the third tied theirs.
A little after 3 p.m., Storm Team 4 meteorologist Mike Stinneford said Reagan National Airport had hit 99 degrees, breaking the old record of 97 on this date in 2014. Dulles International Airport topped out at 96, breaking the old record of 92 set in 1994, and BWI Marshall Airport hit 96, tying their record from 1939.
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Storm Team 4 meteorologist Amelia Draper said temperatures were forecast to soar to 97 degrees, and the winds would pick up. She expects an isolated thunderstorm is possible Friday night, mainly in Southern Maryland, as a cold front clears the area.
The National Weather Service said that cold front brings “a risk for severe thunderstorms, mainly south of U.S. 50.”
Ahead of an approaching cold front, it will be another hot day with high in the low/mid 90s. This front also brings a risk for severe thunderstorms, mainly south of U.S. 50. Conditions should improve after sundown. #MDwx #VAwx #DCwx #WVwx pic.twitter.com/L0UONBJp9R
— NWS Baltimore-Washington (@NWS_BaltWash) June 17, 2022
While most of the area will stay dry, there will be increasing winds and lowering humidity levels as this front moves through. Breezy winds for the evening hours and lower humidity levels mean it will feel a few degrees cooler than the thermometer reads, so a beautiful summer evening is in store.
Due to the forecast of extreme heat, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser has activated the District’s Heat Emergency Plan for Friday. A list of cooling centers is at heat.dc.gov.
Saturday is expected to be about 20 degrees cooler, with plenty of sun, breezy winds, and low humidity.
Forecast:
FRIDAY: Mostly sunny, breezy. Hot and turning less humid. Isolated afternoon storm. Highs in the mid- to upper 90s.
FRIDAY NIGHT: Mainly clear and comfortable. Lows in the low- to mid 60s.
SATURDAY: Mostly sunny, breezy, cooler and less humid. Highs near 80.
SUNDAY: Mostly sunny and breezy. Highs near 80.
MONDAY: Mostly sunny. Highs in the upper 70s and low 80s.
Current conditions:
WTOP’s Colleen Kelleher contributed to this report.
