Forecast: Blistering heat takes hold

CWG: I have a question. Air quality has already been an issue this year for sensitive groups, and we are headed into a few days of some unhealthy air for all.

Would you consider including air quality alerts within your forecast, or maybe a little icon (or highlighted text) indicating there may be air quality issues in parts of the metro area?

I ask because poor air quality affects many people, including children and the elderly, whose care givers need to adjust plans due to poor air. We have a code red air quality alert today (and for the next few days) for most of the region, yet there is no mention of it in the forecast. Even an alert in the subtitle linking to the NWS alert would be helpful. Not asking you all to take on another dimension in forecasting, just to alert folks that on top of the blistering heat... it'll be hard to breathe for some.

You all do such a great job, and I just see a potential improvement to a great site.

@dprats21 - A good suggestion. When heading home from the fireworks last night, I heard that today is projected to be a Code Red day. I think I might take the kids to a spray park this morning before the heat really get going.

BB

I too would appreciate the air quality info, because at times I hear it's acutally unhealthy to exercise outdoors. Either way, still an amazing site.

So of course I just noticed the link you already have to local air quality. Not sure if that's what's being asked of you, but that's helpful!

There's the link, but a mention of the air quality in the forecast itself might be in order, at least on Code Red days. Those who are affected on Code Orange days probably already have the MWCOG air quality site or airnow.gov among their favorites.

I, too, find your site amazing and enlightening. Just wondering if you have ever thought about including conditions from selected personal weather stations, particularly on the fringes of the metro area.

I did not know I had moved back home to the Gulf Coast. I will be thankful for non-oppressive humidity, try not to be outside or add to the poor air quality, and keep my water use down. Hum, sounds like a day for napping.

bring on the blizzards of 2011!

What is the liklihood of serious heat, i.e., 103, 104 by Wednesday? The 99s are getting to be old hat.

@1968fjbb, I'm with you re: the blizzards. Was trying to do a post (only the second this year, without a reference, directly or indirectly, to snow.

I hope Bob Ryan brought a Golden Snowplow to Channel 7. Golden Shovels are nice but snowplows means there's serious snow.

As for heat, was one summer (1980?) when we had back-to-back days of 102 and 103 or maybe 103 and 104. Shake and bake days.

I agree that Code Red air quality warnings should be mentioned in the forecast, and even in the express forecast emails. Also, does it seem a little odd to have a Daily Digit as high as 5 on a day that we're not supposed to spend much time outside?

(smiling) --> in agreement with others above that your site is definitely special! I will never forget the way you handled last winter and now during this record heat. Keep up the good work and God bless!

CWG, thanks for always having such good information. Dunno if you all will have the scoop on this, but it seems that the NWS Mount Holly, NJ is following different criteria for their "excessive heat warning." Their temps have seemed to be pretty much the same as ours during these past few heat waves and yet the NOAA map always has that area in purple, designating a different warning classification.... yeah, this is a geeky question ;-) just curious.

dr-mary, each NWS forecast office has their own criteria for various warnings such as heat advisories/warnings, red flag warnings, winter weather advisories/warnings etc. They're all based on normal climate ranges for that particular zone. I.E. while we might get excessive heat warnings, the same temperatures in Phoenix would require none.

Let's all move to Phoenix so we won't have to worry about so many heat advisories!

Back in the midst of all the snow, I couldn't wait for Summer to arrive. Now, I'm ready for the cold again...

32 days with no rain, at least with all my trees I'm usually about 5 degrees cooler than DC or downtown Fredericksburg, only 91 at 150 pm.

Can't seem to keep rain out of the forecast for my big Friday night dance at the Elks Lodge on the 9th...though it's only at 20% from now...but we're back to a rain threat on 50% of the six-day outlook.

The worst type of rain for Friday evening would be some type of bow-echo derecho which would knock out all the power around the Elks Lodge, except for Inova Fairfax Hospital which likely has backup generators. There's some indication that a backflow off the Atlantic could cut off our heat wave around Thursday.

Thanks for the comments everyone. On the air quality, a link to Code Red was added to the top of the post. We'll try to highlight code reds whenever they are issued. The Code Oranges, which we were linking to earlier in the season, become so common this time of year that it's not always noteworthy.

@dr-mary

If I'm not mistaken, I believe the Philadelphia area (covered by the NWS Mount Holly office) has some history with especially deadly heat waves. So I believe they tend to be a bit more generous and stronger with their heat warnings in light of that. Some folks out there may know more about this off the top of their heads then I do, though.

@blairistic

Everyone has their own opinion on each day's Daily Digit, and we love to hear them. In fact, we just launched a new feature where every day you can vote your call for the day's digit. See the "Your Call?" link in the Daily Digit box above.

Since we are in the midst of the heatwave I thought we could flash back to some "colder" days: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iiBrmWTr4BY

How does this summer compare to the miserable one of 1999? I spent the summer here then and I remember it being awful (and also a drought then).

I already miss the good old days of last winter, & at 62 yrs old, I fear I've seen the last of the truly snowy winters. With Global Warming, yes I think it's real, last winter may be the last truly snowy winter I'll c in my life time.

One really good thing about this hot weather. You won't see any cops jumping out of their SUVs and pulling their guns. Can't leave that air conditioning.

Nice photo of the snow on the front page. You are great, CWG!

Don't miss the snow one bit.

- Ray

I'm with you Ray! He(( no I dont't miss the snow!

Why do people WHINE SO MUCH?!?

IT'S JULY!

IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE HOT!!!!!!

SHUT THE HE(( UP!

Where is Walter in Falls Church? Can't he make an ice cube sculpture for us?

@VaTechBob, we had 40 inches of snow in 2002-03, so the snow will come again, big time. And porpoises and other acquatic snow creatures will again swim in Falls Church. Hey, Walter, how about a sea lion next time there's a goodly snow.

As for folks who can't deal with us talking about snow and disliking the heat, some people don't like to be stir fried by mother nature. And if our saying so bothers you, you might just try chillin'.

The apocalypse has arrived just as Al Gore's gone into hiding. Oy.

One of the reasons there are heat advisories north of us and not here is it is higher dewpoints up there. See http://weather.unisys.com/surface/sfc_con_dewp.html (may need to click on dewp). Also their heat index criteria is lower in some cases (100 for Boston area, 105 for DC).

@refrep

We'd love to provide access to weather stations throughout the metro area and beyond, heck, i'd love to create a whole weather network. Unfortunately, I don't know much about them, so have hesitated up until this point. If you'd like to email me at the address at the top of the page, I may be able to work to set something up.

Isn't Washington weather one of the two accepted proofs that God has a sense of humor (the other is that he invented Man.)

:-)

It's sure been a hard, hard winter
My feet been draggin' 'cross the ground
And I hope it's gonna be a long, hot summer
And the light of love will be burnin' bright

To answer the question:

Hellllllll nooooooooooooooo I don't miss Snowmaggedden! I'll take summer over snot-producing, frostbiting, slip n slide "Winter Wonderland."

I just wanted to thank you guys for this blog. I read it almost daily, particularly when we have extreme weather like last winter and now. Keep up the good work!

I don't miss Snowmageddon either, but I sure do yearn for some cooler temps and a few days of gentle soaking rains...

bigjayray1, I'm glad you are a reader & fan. Thanks for stopping by!
natsncats . what I wouldn't give for the same things! It was verrrry uncomfortable this evening. Ughh.

Do I miss last winter's snow and cold ? Heck no. But a few days of soaking rains would be nice now and then.

ahh...stinkerflat/rainman...beautiful video. your chanting "i'm gonna be on the weather channel" to your unimpressed, slightly embarrassed wife cracked me up! thanks.

JerryFloyd1,
done dolphins, alligator, octopus, penguins, seals and of course this past winter's shark/seal/megalodon... sea lion? we'll see...

celestun100,
soon come. i figured with 100 degrees on the way, i'd wait 'til tomorrow...

WATCH THIS SPACE

This is the worst summer ever!

Today's highs: BWI - 100, DCA - 99, IAD - 96

I'mm mmmmeeellllllttiinnggg!.......

Today I got up at 5AM for the drive from Hanford CA to Cedar City UT. On the road by 6AM.

We went through Bakersfield, Mojave, Barstow (103 degrees) Baker (also 103) and Las Vegas (near 100).

Drank lots of water.