Forecast: Next heat wave starts July 4th

Great day today before intense heat begins its approach

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Today's Daily Digit

 

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Splendid Friday to soak up the sun. If only the high heat wasn't preparing to pounce.
 
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EXPRESS FORECAST

Today: Sunny, low humidity. Low 80s. | Tonight: Mostly clear. Mid-50s to low 60s. | Tomorrow: Mostly sunny & warmer. Upper 80s. | Sunday Mostly sunny, hot & somewhat humid. Mid-90s. | A Look Ahead | Get Express Forecast by E-mail

FORECAST IN DETAIL

Anticipation of serious heat returning by July 4th is all the more motivation to cash in on today's final wonderful day in this mini "spring wave," if you will. Highs skyrocket well into the 90s Sunday. And it appears the heat will set up shop for another extended stay, with temperatures possibly flirting with 100 at times next week. So get ready to roast -- and with little to no chance of cooling rain in the foreseeable future (that's probably bad news for folks in the Maryland 'burbs now contending with water restrictions).

Today (Friday): Enjoy this last near-perfect day before we ramp up into the next heat wave. It's another somewhat crisp morning as temperatures rise into and through the 60s. Highs should only reach the low 80s under brilliant sunshine. And our recent reprieve from humidity remains intact as well, with light and refreshing breezes out of the north. Slap on the sunscreen, then get out and enjoy! Confidence: High

Tonight: Skies should remain mostly clear, with evening temperatures falling through the 70s, and into the 60s by late evening. Overnight lows drop to the mid-to-upper 50s in the suburbs to the low 60s downtown, as heat quickly escapes back into the atmosphere without clouds insulating us. Even downtown, it may be one last night to sleep with the windows open. Confidence: High

Keep reading for the furnace -- I mean, forecast -- into next week...

Tomorrow (Saturday): The heat begins its return. Mostly sunny skies help highs shoot back up to the upper 80s, which is right around the average this time of year. Maybe some spots touch 90. Good news is humidity, while slightly higher, is still pretty much a non-factor. Also a non-factor?... the threat of showers or storms, which is slim to none. Confidence: High

Tomorrow Night: Now the humidity starts to rise some more and we're no longer talking 50s in the suburbs, even with mostly clear skies. Most everyone should see lows in the 60s (low-to-mid 60s outside the Beltway, mid-to-upper 60s downtown). I think I'll leave my air conditioning on, and windows closed! Confidence: Medium-High

Independence Day (Sunday): Time for the heat to really crank up. Mostly sunny skies beat down on us once again, as highs climb to the mid-90s. While it's good news for outdoor activities and fireworks displays, the little to no chance of rain means no break from the searing heat. If it's any consolation, humidity shouldn't be too bad -- noticeable, but only approaching or reaching the moderate range. Confidence: Medium-High

Partly to mostly clear Sunday night with a continued summer theme. Mugginess increases during the evening and into the overnight, with temperatures at fireworks time mainly in the 80s. Lows in the upper 60s (coolest suburbs) to mid-70s (downtown). Confidence: Medium

A LOOK AHEAD

Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday reach the witheringly hot category. Poor air quality is likely along with hazy and humid conditions. Temperatures soar, under partly to mostly sunny skies, to highs in the mid-90s to near 100. We can hold out for a 10% chance of a shower or thunderstorm each day, but more than likely raindrops are not in the cards. Confidence: Medium

BEACHCAST

The holiday weekend beach forecast is for mostly sunny skies up and down the mid-Atlantic coastline straight through Monday.

For the Maryland/Delaware beaches, humidity remains on the low side as highs rise from the upper 70s today to the low-to-mid 80s tomorrow. Both the heat and humidity rise thereafter, with Sunday and Monday highs near 90 or in the low 90s. Similar conditions are expected at Virginia Beach, maybe just a couple degrees warmer.

At the Outer Banks, highs near 80 and fairly low humidity hang around through tomorrow. More humid Sunday and Monday with Sunday highs in the mid-80s and Monday highs in the upper 80s to near 90.

Cape May comes in with highs in the cool-ish mid-to-upper 70s today and upper 70s to near 80 Saturday. Sunday and Monday trend markedly warmer and more humid -- highs in the mid-to-upper 80s Sunday and in the 90s Monday. -Dan Stillman