Hold off on the pumpkin spice latte, because the D.C. area is experiencing a heat wave that shows no signs of letting up until Thursday. Here’s what you need to know.
“We definitely broke some highs today,” National Weather Service meteorologist Kevin Witt said.
New records were set at D.C.-area airports Monday – Reagan National (98 degrees), BWI Marshall (99 degrees) and Dulles International (99 degrees). The records for Reagan National and BWI Marshall go back more than 100 years to 1872; for Dulles, they go back since the 1960s.
The National Weather Service will still need to further examine these temperatures to make sure the numbers are legitimate, but Witt said, “Yes, they were broken.”
Witt said this warm weather will continue for at least a couple of more days, and new records may yet be set again in the coming days.
Witt said all it takes is a “ridge of high pressure” to build in the late summer months for these types of warm temperatures.
“So in general with high pressure building in at all levels of the atmosphere, a lot of sunshine and climatology speaking … it’s not out of the question to get early September temperatures this high,” Witt said. “If in this case, this summer has been dry, for the most part, and we’ve been dealing with some drought, so that doesn’t help matters either when you’re trying not to break high temperature records.”
Temperatures were in the 90s, inching toward the 100-degree mark Monday afternoon. The heat emergency plan in the District has been activated, however, after the heat index reached 95 degrees. This includes the opening of cooling centers throughout D.C.
“We’re on high heat alert for the next couple of afternoons, and it’s going to be intense,” 7News First Alert meteorologist Brian van de Graaff said.
That high heat comes after both BWI Marshall and Dulles airports set new records for the date on Sunday, with temperatures reaching 98 and 99, respectively.
Though the D.C. region is still in a bit of a dry spell, what humidity there is will easily raise the heat index over the 100 mark.
Overnight lows will remain in the 70s, and conditions are expected to stay the same until at least Wednesday.
A cold front will approach the region Thursday and will bring showers and a few thunderstorms, 7News First Alert meteorologist Steve Rudin said.
Highs in the 90s cool to the 80s Friday and into the upcoming weekend. Saturday may be unsettled with wet weather chances.
Temperatures this time of year are typically in the 80s, van de Graaff said.
Staying healthy in high heat
With the extended period of heat, those moving around outdoors are at heightened risk for dehydration, heat cramps, heat exhaustion, heat stroke and a number of other heat-related conditions.
Knowing the signs of heat exposure can prevent a life-threatening situation. Should any of the following occur, get out of the heat, loosen any tight or heavy clothing and drink plenty of water:
- Heat cramps: symptoms include painful muscle spasms, usually involving the abdominal muscles or legs;
- Heat exhaustion: first signs are cool, moist, pale or flushed skin, dizziness, nausea, headache and weakness;
- Heat stroke: the most serious sign of overexposure. Symptoms include red, hot, dry skin, weak pulse, rapid breathing and changes in consciousness. Seek medical attention by calling 911.
If you are traveling on Labor Day, be sure to plan your day to include times and places to cool down and rehydrate. This is especially important for drivers with children or furry friends along for the ride.
Resources around the region
In the District, the Hot Weather Emergency goes through Thursday. During a Hot Weather Emergency, the District sets up cooling centers for residents needing to seek relief from the heat.
You can find an interactive map of D.C.’s cooling centers online.
Another way to combat the heat in D.C. is by visiting any number of spray parks, which are open Monday until 6 p.m. More information and an interactive map can be found here.
Montgomery County, Maryland, officials have issued a Hyperthermia Alert for Labor Day until 6 p.m. Monday. Some cities in the county have also canceled Labor Day parades and outdoor activities in anticipation of the high heat.
Resources and safety tips from the county can be found here.
Find more resources to prepare for and mitigate the heat at Ready.gov.
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Forecast:
MONDAY NIGHT: Clear and very mild. Winds: Light. Lows in the upper 60s to mid 70s.
TUESDAY: HEAT ALERT. Hot and sunny. Heat Index: Around 100. Winds: N 5-10 mph. Highs in the upper 90s
WEDNESDAY: HEAT ALERT. Hot with passing clouds. Heat Index: 100-104. Winds: N 5-10 mph. Highs in the upper 90s.
THURSDAY: Partly cloudy. Hot. Isolated T-showers. Heat Index: Low 100s. Winds: Southwest 5-10 mph. Highs in the upper 90s.
Current weather:
WTOP’s Abigail Constantino, Mike Murillo and Jessica Kronzer contributed to this report.
