Heat in District of Columbia

Events

54

Deaths

8

Injuries

317

Damage

None recorded

• Heat in District of Columbia, July 4 to 7, 19993 deaths · 140 injured · 1 eventHigh pressure sat off the Mid-Atlantic coast from the 4th through the 7th, acting like a heat pump drawing extremely warm and humid air into the region. Temperatures on the 4th through early on the 7th were oppressively hot, and extremely humid conditions added to the misery.
• Heat in District of Columbia, July 13 to 19, 19972 deaths · 150 injured · 1 eventThe combination of antecedent dry weather, a persistent upper-level high pressure area, and the time of year produced a bona-fide heat wave in the District of Columbia during the middle of the month. Unlike events of previous years, the heat index was not quite as oppressive.
• Heat in District of Columbia, August 16 to 17, 19971 death · 25 injured · 1 eventWest winds circulating around a "Bermuda" high pressure system allowed temperatures to soar during the weekend of the 16th and 17th. Record maximum temperatures were achieved on both days. On the 16th, the previous record of 95 degrees was shattered as the mercury soared to 102.
• Heat in District of Columbia, August 1 to 3, 20062 deaths · 1 eventExcessive heat conditions occurred on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, August 1-3, in Washington, DC. Afternoon heat index values ranged between 105 to as high as 115 degrees. Two people lost their lives in The District due to the excessive heat conditions during this heat wave.
• Heat in District of Columbia, May 18 to 21, 19961 injured · 1 eventAn early-season four-day heat wave, following a period of cooler than normal weather, took it's toll on outdoor enthusiasts who were unprepared for the dramatic temperature swing.
• Heat in District of Columbia, May 6 to 9, 20001 injured · 1 eventMostly sunny skies and southerly winds brought to the region by high pressure pushed temperatures well above normal from the 6th through the 9th. Washington Reagan National Airport recorded a high temperature of 88 degrees, compared to the normal high of 74 degrees.
• Heat in District of Columbia, July 17 to 18, 20062 eventsA hot and very humid airmass seeped into the Mid Atlantic on July 17 and July 18. The heat index value climbed to around 105 degrees both afternoons.
• Heat and Damaging Wind in District of Columbia, August 25, 2007$2,000 · 50 kt wind · 2 eventsA hot and humid air mass developed over the Mid Atlantic ahead of a strong cold front on August 25th. Temperatures climbed into the mid 90s by noon. These temperatures combined with high humidity created heat index values around 105.
• Heat in District of Columbia, July 27 to 28, 19971 eventAnother bout of searing heat occurred in the Washington metropolitan region towards the end of July. Official maximum temperature readings at Washington/National Airport reached 99 on the 27th and 100 on the 28th. No deaths or injuries were reported.
• Heat in District of Columbia, June 25 to 26, 19971 eventThe first bona-fide summer heat wave in nearly two years arrived in the city after a three month period of below normal temperatures.
• Heat in District of Columbia, January 6 to 9, 19981 eventA sprawling area of high atmospheric pressure became anchored over the western Atlantic for several days.
• Heat in District of Columbia, July 20 to 23, 19981 eventAfter an unusually pleasant start to the month, a singular heat wave affected the Washington metropolitan region during the climatological peak of highest annual temperatures.
• Heat in District of Columbia, March 27 to 31, 19981 eventAfter a winter of cloudy, wet conditions, spring struck back with a vengeance in the form of strong atmospheric high pressure. Underneath the high, very warm and dry weather developed - more like early June than late March.
• Heat in District of Columbia, June 7 to 9, 19991 eventHigh pressure centered over the Southeast U.S. caused air to downslope over the Appalachian Mountains, sending afternoon temperatures into the upper 90s to lower 100s. The heat, in combination with very humid air, resulted in afternoon heat indices between 100 and 110 degrees.
• Heat in District of Columbia, March 8, 20001 eventHigh pressure over the Eastern Seaboard and warm southerly winds on the 8th resulted in sunny skies and temperatures nearly 30 degrees above normal. Washington Reagan National Airport reached a high temperature of 85 degrees, shattering the previous daily record by 8 degrees.
• Heat in District of Columbia, June 10 to 11, 20001 eventHigh pressure in combination with sunny skies caused afternoon temperatures to reach into the upper 80s to middle 90s on the 10th and 11th. Dew points reached into the lower 70s creating heat indices in the middle 90s to lower 100s.
• Heat in District of Columbia, June 25, 20001 eventHigh pressure in combination with sunny skies caused afternoon temperatures to reach into the upper 80s to middle 90s on the 25th. Dew points reached into the lower 70s creating heat indices in the middle 90s to lower 100s. The normal high temperature for June 25th is 87 degrees.
• Heat in District of Columbia, June 12 to 13, 20011 eventHigh pressure in combination with southerly winds brought hot, hazy, and humid conditions to the Mid Atlantic Region between June 12th and 13th. High temperatures soared to around 90 degrees and heat indices reached near 100 degrees through the period.
• Heat in District of Columbia, June 27 to 30, 20011 eventHigh pressure in combination with southerly winds brought hot, hazy, and humid conditions to the region between June 27th and 30th. High temperatures soared into the lower 90s and heat indices reached into the lower 100s through the period.
• Heat in District of Columbia, August 6 to 10, 20011 eventHigh pressure bought ample sunshine and warm southerly winds to the region between the 6th and the 10th. Afternoon temperatures soared into the 90s each day and dew points in the 60s pushed heat indices to between 98 and 112 degrees.
• Heat in District of Columbia, August 12 to 19, 20021 eventHigh pressure sitting off the Atlantic coastline pumped hot and humid air into the region between August 12th and 19th. Temperatures soared well into the 90s during the afternoon each day and heat index values approached 100 degrees.
• Heat in District of Columbia, August 22, 20021 eventHigh temperatures rose into the mid 90s on the 22nd. With dew points in the lower to mid 70s, heat index values soared to near 105 degrees during the afternoon.
• Heat in District of Columbia, August 1 to 5, 20021 eventHigh pressure off the Atlantic Coast pumped hot and humid air into the Mid-Atlantic region. This caused high temperatures to reach between 95 and 100 degrees August 1st through the 5th.
• Heat in District of Columbia, July 2 to 4, 20021 eventHigh pressure remained stationary off the Delmarva coastline during the 1st week of July. This resulted in a prolonged period of hot and humid weather across the Mid Atlantic region.
• Heat in District of Columbia, July 22 to 23, 20021 eventAnother round of hot and humid weather occurred in the Washington D.C. metropolitan area on July 22nd and 23rd. Heat indexes rose to 103 degrees on the 22nd and 105 degrees on the 23rd.

Heat everywhereEvery kind of event in District of Columbia

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24.