Washington Bakes in Record Heat Wave Exceeding 100 Degrees

The U.S. Capitol building in Washington on June 25, 2024. (Madalina Vasiliu/The Epoch Times)

Washington experienced temperatures over 100 degrees for four straight days this week, matching the district’s own record.

The nation’s capital reached triple digits July 14 to 17, topping out at 104 degrees on July 16. The heat index, which factors in relative humidity to gauge how hot it feels, reached 108 degrees. It tied the date record originally set on July 16, 1988.

Temperatures reached 102 degrees on July 15 and 101 degrees on July 14, setting new records for their respective dates. The previous record high for both days was 100 degrees. On July 17, thermometers registered 101 degrees but fell short of the date record of 102 degrees set in 1980.

But the streak is set to end. A forecaster at the National Weather Service (NWS) Baltimore/Washington office told The Epoch Times on July 18 that a cold front moved in, and temperatures have remained in the low 90s.

He said the four-day streak is tied for the longest 100 degree-plus heat streak Washington has ever experienced. Four consecutive days were previously recorded in 1930 and 2012.

The all-time high for the capital in July was recorded on July 20, 1930, when the temperature reached 106 degrees. On July 7, 2012, and July 10, 1936, the temperature reached 105 degrees, and on July 9, 1936, July 21, 1926, and July 29, 2011, the temperature reached 104 degrees.

According to NWS, there have been only three days in July that haven’t exceeded 100 degrees in Washington.

In Baltimore, temperatures have also exceeded 100 degrees over the same four days, registering 104 degrees on July 16 and 102 degrees on July 15.

Raleigh, North Carolina, also registered 100 degrees on July 15 (albeit falling short of the 101-degree date record set in 1954) and a record 101 degrees on July 16. The previous daily record was 99 degrees in 1999.

This streak also follows a stretch in Las Vegas earlier this month, which saw five consecutive days where the temperature was over 115 degrees.

Looking ahead to the weekend of July 20, the NWS graphical forecast is predicting real temperatures to remain well below 100 degrees and intense heat to hit the western states. In Phoenix, temperatures are expected to reach 116 degrees, Las Vegas could see 113 degrees, and Spokane, Washington, could see 106 degrees.

These predictions are of the real temperature expected in these areas, and a vast swathe of the United States, especially the southern states, is expected to see high heat index levels measuring well over 100 degrees over the next several days.

To find the heat index, a person can input the real temperature and the relative humidity into the Weather Prediction Center’s Heat Index Calculator, and the heat index is often significantly higher. For example, Tampa International Airport registered a mild 88 degrees on July 18, but due to the 75 percent humidity, the heat index registered 103 degrees.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.