Temperatures surpassed 100 in the D.C. area Thursday to kick off a multiday heat wave that could bring the hottest Fourth of July on record.
It’s the beginning of a stretch of hot weather expected to last though the holiday, according to聽7News First Alert Meteorologist Eileen Whelan.
Feels-like temperatures hit 110 in parts of the D.C. region Thursday afternoon, with Reagan National Airport reaching 102 degrees, toppling the record for the date of 101 degrees recorded back in 1898. Dulles International Airport tied the record-high for the date of 98 degrees set in 1966. Meanwhile at BWI Marshall, a temperature of 101 degrees was two degrees shy of the record high set in 1901.
Friday’s forecast is expected to feature similar heat.
The National Weather Service has in effect for both Thursday and Friday.
Sunshine dominated Thursday’s weather with little chance for cooling thunderstorms. Portions of the D.C. region have opened cooling centers in preparation for the heat wave.
The region will only see slight relief from the heat and humidity in the evening, with lows dipping below 80 degrees and feels-like temperatures staying around 90 until after midnight.
Whelan said Friday could bring pop-up showers and storms, and more widely scattered showers and storms are expected for the Fourth of July.
鈥淎 higher risk Saturday, damaging wind gusts, downpours and frequent thunder and lightning could impact your Fourth of July plans,鈥� Whelan said.
Heat index values are expected to be around 105 for Independence Day.
The highest chance for storms Saturday is from 3 p.m. and 8 p.m., according to 7News First Alert Chief Meteorologist Veronica Johnson.
If storms move in earlier in the day on the Fourth, it might not be quite as hot, but it will still be very humid for the fireworks shows, and with light winds, the region could see a lot of smoke creating some poor air quality Saturday night.
Johnson said temperatures will be in the mid 70s to mid 80s during the fireworks, but it will feel closer to 90.
Sunday will be slightly, slightly, cooler with highs in the mid 90s, but showers and storms are likely.
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Metro is also watching the heat
Metro in past years has conducted “heat rides” to monitor outdoor rail temperatures and check for warping and other heat-related issues. It has also lowered train speeds when outdoor rail temperatures top 135 degrees.
“This year, we鈥檙e adding something new: applying reflective white paint to vulnerable segments, which lowers temps,” Metro said Wednesday in a post on X.
More than 6,000 feet of track were treated with the paint, the transit agency said.
With extreme heat like we鈥檙e currently experiencing, rail temperatures can soar above 135掳F, which may cause bends in the rail due to thermal expansion.
For years, Metro has monitored rail temps on 鈥渉eat rides鈥� to detect track issues before they happen.
This year, we鈥檙e鈥�
鈥� Metro Forward (@wmata)
Extreme heat presents challenges for every transit system, because our steel rails expand as temperatures increase, and the demands on our electrical and mechanical equipment increase exponentially,” Theresa Impastato, Metro’s chief infrastructure officer said.
In the system’s underground stations, chillers and fans keep temperatures about six to 10 degrees cooler than聽outside, she said.
“We monitor in real time conditions across the system and the performance of the chillers, and are prepared to respond quickly to any equipment issues that could affect our customer comfort,” Impastato said.
7News First Alert Forecast
THURSDAY NIGHT:
Mainly clear
Lows: 77-83
Winds: Light & Variable
FRIDAY:
EXTREME HEAT WARNING
Mostly sunny. Dangerous heat. Isolated PM storms possible
Highs: 100-106
Winds: West 5-10 mph
SATURDAY:
EXTREME HEAT WARNING
Thunderstorm risk
Highs: around 100
Winds: West 5-10 mph
FIREWORKS FORECAST:
Lingering showers and storms end
Temperatures: 90s to 80s
Winds: West 2-5 mph
SUNDAY:
Scattered showers. Storms
High: 95-100
Winds: West 10-15 mph
Current Conditions
杏吧原创’s Jessica Kronzer and Nick Iannelli contributed to this report.
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