The high temperature for Monday was 93 degrees, and sadly, that may be the "coolest" our days will be all week.
A dangerous combination of heat and humidity is bearing down on the D.C. region this week, as temperatures could climb above 100 degrees some days and heat indexes will climb even higher.
Along with the heat and humidity Monday, the region also dealt with a Code Orange air quality alert. That means the air was unhealthy for sensitive groups -- children, older adults and anyone with a respiratory or heart condition. Make sure you limit your physical outdoor activity. And a hyperthermia alert was issued in D.C. with the heat index reaching 95 degrees Monday afternoon.
Beyond today, it will only get hotter and more humid as a "dome of heat," as News4 meteorologist Johnson called it, that is affecting much of the country east of the Rockies focuses in on our region.
There is a chance of rain overnight, but rain is more likely Tuesday afternoon, with the potential for severe storms, News4 Chief Meteorologist Doug Kammerer said. Expect a high of 93 degrees.
There is also a chance of storms -- some potentially severe -- on Wednesday, with a high of 94 degrees possible.
The hottest temperatures this week should arrive Thursday, Friday and Saturday, with the possibility of temperatures at or even above 100 degrees in some places and heat indexes up to 115, according to Kammerer, who said it could be the hottest week of the year.
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Because of the extreme heat, the D.C. Department of Public Works is collecting trash beginning an hour earlier this week, at 6 a.m. Residents can take out the trash after 6 p.m. so they don't have to get up earlier in the morning.
Now for some notes on temperatures and records:
Keep an eye on record-breaking heat as the week goes on. The current record highs are:
- Thursday: 104
- Friday: 103
- Saturday: 101
- Sunday: 96
Sunday's record looks like the easiest one to break, but there is a chance for records on Friday and Saturday, too.
Remember how last summer was so hot? You probably wanted to put it out of mind. But here's a reminder. In June and July 2010 there was a combined 30 days with temperatures at 90 degrees or higher. We've already had 24 days of 90 degrees or higher so far this June and July.
With that said, so far we've only had three consecutive days of 95 degrees or higher -- May 30, May 31 and June 1.
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