What to Know
- It's going to be dangerously hot through the rest of the weekend, with extreme humidity
- On Friday, the heat index could reach 105 degrees
- High heat continues Saturday and Sunday
Get ready for three days of intense summer sweat: Storm Team4 is in weather alert as dangerously hot temperatures stay through the weekend.
An excessive heat warning is in effect until 9 p.m. for the D.C. area. Air quality alerts are also in effect for areas including Washington, D.C., Arlington, Alexandria and Fairfax county in Virginia and Prince George's and Montgomery counties in Maryland. Here's a full list of weather alerts.
A heat dome of high pressure centered near Nashville, Tennessee, is in the perfect position to deliver us near-record high temperatures and loads of humidity. This combination will make spending any length of time outside a most unpleasant experience and may pose a health risk.
High temperatures will reach the mid to upper 90s Friday with heat indices of 100-105 degrees. Even with clear skies, overnight lows will struggle to drop much below 80 degrees on Friday and Saturday.
Saturday will likely be the worst of the next three days with highs around 100 degrees and heat indices getting into the 110-115 degrees range. The heat is expected to be so intense that the City of Alexandria is cancelling or rescheduling some community events.
Sunday will be just about as hot but there will be a gradual increase in clouds, possibly preceding some cooling thunderstorms by Sunday evening — especially in Northern Maryland and the Shenandoah Valley.
Heat is the top weather-related killer in the U.S. The Maryland Department of Health says four people died this month from heat-related causes. Storm Team4 has this advice for staying cool and safe during this heat wave:
- Wear lightweight and light-colored clothing
- Stay hydrated
- Stay in the shade or air conditioning as much as possible
- Check on elderly or infirm friends and neighbors to insure they are staying cool
- Make sure outdoor pets are either brought inside or at least have ample shade and fresh water
- Never leave kids or pets unattended in a car on a hot day. Temperatures can quickly reach dangerous levels
Monday is the beginning of the end for this heat wave, but it will still be hot. Storm Team4 is tracking widespread storms.
Local
Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia local news, events and information
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser activated the District's Heat Emergency Plan earlier this week.
Those in need of a place to cool down are encouraged to visit any library or recreation center during their normal business hours, or the Adams Place Day Center (2210 Adams Place NE). See a map of D.C.'s cooling centers here.
Prince George's County has opened twelve cooling centers. Here's a list.
A hyperthermia hotline is available at 202-399-7093 for anyone seeking transportation to a cooling center for a resident experiencing homelessness, officials said.
