Thunderstorms soak parts of DC area as heat wave holds its grip

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Severe Thunderstorms passed though parts of the D.C. region Monday as residents faced yet another day of sweltering temperatures amid a record-breaking heat wave. Here’s what you need to know.

If you’re on a commute, or just traveling, keep the radio tuned to weather as the extreme storms, wind or flash flooding can appear suddenly.

As a system moved through the area, Severe Thunderstorm Warnings popped up throughout the D.C. area. The National Weather Service warned that storms in Loudoun and Fairfax counties in Virginia as well as those in Montgomery County, Maryland, could bring winds up to 60 mph.

Moving in and out within minutes, at 5:50 p.m. Monday, winds from fast moving storms passing by WTOP studios in Friendship Heights, Md., knocked the tops off trees and scattering debris into the roadway.

7News First Alert meteorologist Veronica Johnson said multiple trees were reported down in the District, as well as downed trees, debris and a handful of power outages in Fairfax and Loudoun counties in Virginia.

More isolated storms could be happen Monday evening, but Johnson said the worst for the day was over

“We are done with the severe weather here this evening,” Johnson said. “But it really will be a rinse and repeat kind of day for us tomorrow where storms will come in during the afternoon heating of the day and could bring some high winds.”

“So rinse and repeat for us tomorrow,” she added. “We’ve got temperatures here this evening, about 89 to 93 degrees, then tonight about 70 to 79. It’s going to be warm and humid start but no rain expected in the morning.”

Halfway through July, the D.C. area continues to deal with searing temperatures, as the National Weather Service has also issued an Excessive Heat Warning for most of Monday’s daylight hours.

Temperatures on Monday afternoon were around 100 throughout much of the D.C. area. Heat index values were expected to reach closer to 110, according to 7News First Alert meteorologist Mark Peña.

Feels-like temperatures are expected to drop into the 80s on Monday night.

Tuesday will be another scorching day. In a similar pattern to other days during the heat wave, an Excessive Heat Warning will go into from Tuesday morning through Tuesday evening, according to the weather service.

“This little stretch here should go down on the books from what I can tell as one of our more intense heat waves in the metro area,” 7News First Alert Senior Meteorologist Brian van de Graaff

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Duration wise, the longest heat wave the D.C. region has experienced were 21-day stretches of temperatures above 90 in 1980 and 1988, according to van de Graff.

The record temperature for July 15 of 100 was set in 1988, according to van de Graaff.

A cool-down expected at the end of the week could prevent those records from being broken.

The hot weather is a result of a dome of high pressure which is parked in the Southeast U.S. “It just steers that heat right in here and it doesn’t really allow much in the way of cooling showers or storms to come in and give us a little bit of relief,” van de Graaf said.

Much of the D.C. area is under a Code Orange air quality alert Monday as well, meaning it is possibly unhealthy for certain sensitive groups — such as children, the elderly, or those suffering from heart disease, asthma or other lung diseases.

“When we get this really stagnant hot air that’s not moving around much, the pollutants can kind of gather,” van de Graaf said.

Fairfax County Public Schools canceled all outdoor activities on the district’s fields and courts from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., including recess, extracurricular activities, team practices and recreation programs and community use by other groups. Employees who work outside — including landscapers, groundskeepers and general facilities workers — must finish out their workdays indoors.

Ahead of Thursday’s forecast temperatures in the middle 80s there is more heat in store, including on Tuesday, for which the National Weather Service has issued an Excessive Heat Watch.

On Sunday afternoon, record highs of 101 were recorded at Reagan National Airport in Virginia and BWI Marshall airport in Maryland, according to WTOP meteorologist Mike Stinneford.

“The high of 99 at Dulles was also a record,” Stinneford said.

Though showers and thunderstorms are possible each day through the first half of the week, the weather service said the “best chance for organized severe weather looks to be on Wednesday.”

Beating the heat (and humidity)

The extreme heat and humidity in the early part of the week will increase the chance for heat-related illnesses, especially for those who will be outside.

• Extreme heat can trigger headaches and migraines, D.C.-area doctor says
• You can handle one heat wave, but what happens to your body when they keep coming?

The weather service recommends frequent rest breaks in shaded or cool environments for those doing outdoor work, and wearing lightweight or loosefitting clothing and, of course, staying hydrated.

If possible, people are urged to limit outdoor activity to the early or late hours of the day to avoid the most intense heat.

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