The new Washington
Jump to CWG's
Outside now? Radar, temps
Follow us on Twitter
Find us on Facebook
DCA shatters record of 94, soars to 99
Reading hottest on record this late in season
* Full Forecast thru the weekend | Tropical Storm Matthew update *
(updated at 10:30 p.m.)
Reagan National's (DCA) record high today is 94 (from 1970) and Dulles's (IAD) is 92. The hottest it's ever been (since records began) after September 23 is 96 at both airports. Will we match or best any of these records? Each hour we'll provide an update:
Evening update: The official high for the day was 99 at Reagan National and 97 at Dulles.
3 p.m.: Unbelievably, the temperature at National shot up to 98 last hour, crushing the old record. It's also the hottest it's ever been this late in the season. Dulles is up to 95.
2 p.m.: National is at 93, one degree shy of the record. Dulles is up to 94, breaking its record from an hour earlier.
1 p.m.: Dulles has already eclipsed the record for the day, up to 93 at 1 p.m. National is making steady progress toward tying or breaking today's record, now up to 91 degrees.
By
Jason Samenow
| September 24, 2010; 3:00 PM ET
Categories:
Extreme Heat, Local Climate
Save & Share:
Previous: Tropical Storm Matthew may threaten U.S.
Next: PM Update: Is today's record heat our 90+ finale?
Posted by: Bombo47jea | September 24, 2010 1:16 PM | Report abuse
With westerly winds, temps starting the day warm tomorrow (near 70 or low 70s at National), and plenty of sun once any morning clouds associated with the front clear, I'd say we have a 40-50% chance of touching 90 at National tomorrow. That would, if it happens, tie the 1980 record of 67 90-degree days in a year. -Dan, CWG
Posted by: CapitalWeatherGang | September 24, 2010 1:35 PM | Report abuse
90 tomorrow ties the record, right?
The latest 90 day was Oct 11, IIRC, so we still have 2 weeks to beat it.
Posted by: wiredog | September 24, 2010 1:41 PM | Report abuse
This is the 3rd record high in a row for Dulles.. last two days tied previous record highs.
Posted by: Ian-CapitalWeatherGang | September 24, 2010 1:47 PM | Report abuse
Given the gusty winds predicted later this afternoon and how quickly that fire in Manassas spread yesterday, people should be extremely careful about grilling, etc. outdoors today. The NWS posted a statement about the regional fire danger: http://forecast.weather.gov/showsigwx.php?warnzone=DCZ001&warncounty=DCC001&firewxzone=DCZ001&local_place1=Washington+DC&product1=Special+Weather+Statement
Posted by: JerryFloyd1 | September 24, 2010 1:50 PM | Report abuse
Wow! 98 at DCA.
Posted by: Ian-CapitalWeatherGang | September 24, 2010 2:57 PM | Report abuse
Heck, might as well go for 100, since we're that close.
Posted by: JerryFloyd1 | September 24, 2010 3:04 PM | Report abuse
Had been wondering why I kept wiping my forehead.. 100 degrees? No thanks and not in this lifetime.
Jason Samenow.. ur still da man! lol
Posted by: RedCherokee | September 24, 2010 3:17 PM | Report abuse
Down here in Miami where I am today, it's ONLY 85. Sounds good, except the dew point is 80!! In turns out, the heat index for DCA and MIA are virtually the same (99 Mia; 100 at DCA)
Posted by: SteveT-CapitalWeatherGang | September 24, 2010 3:19 PM | Report abuse
I just cannot take this crap anymore!!
Posted by: sigmagrrl | September 24, 2010 3:22 PM | Report abuse
Don't worry, I've been seeing the wooly caterpillars like crazy the last two weeks...just like last year. They know something is up for the winter. We'll have a killing freeze before the next four weeks...
Posted by: DullesARC | September 24, 2010 3:26 PM | Report abuse
No more. no more. no more. :-(((
Mercy.
Posted by: prayforsnowDC | September 24, 2010 3:37 PM | Report abuse
I expect the above average temps 2 cont. thru Oct. A couple of 90 days in Oct. wouldn't surpise me. I'm going with a high of 90 on Sat.
Posted by: VaTechBob | September 24, 2010 3:59 PM | Report abuse
prayforsnowDC - agreed. I ask for mercy now too. EESH!!!!
Posted by: Camden-CapitalWeatherGang | September 24, 2010 4:58 PM | Report abuse
I think this is our "third last" 90 degree day. The first last was ~Sept 7 when it got to 96 and the second last about a week ago just before a a stretch of fall-like weather. I don't know if it will go to fourth last or even fifth last. The 1980 record was safe.
No knock on you, CWG, the technology isn't there yet (and may never be).
Posted by: kperl | September 24, 2010 5:27 PM | Report abuse
99 the official high.. puts some breathing room (about 2 weeks) between previous latest high since we've seen a 98 on the 23rd.
Posted by: Ian-CapitalWeatherGang | September 24, 2010 5:35 PM | Report abuse
kperl, I don't believe that's fully accurate. There has been speculation that we might be at the end but this heat wave especially was foreseen at least a week out.
Posted by: Ian-CapitalWeatherGang | September 24, 2010 5:36 PM | Report abuse
I find it fascinating that airports are used as the place to measure temperatures when neither DCA nor IAD were in existence 75 years ago. And of course, no one lives at an airport. At the least, please use a place that is not covered in tarmac/ blacktop, filled with heat from aircraft engines and, in the case of IAD, totally devoid of shade. How about measuring the temperature on the Mall?
Posted by: carolineC1 | September 24, 2010 6:06 PM | Report abuse
The comments to this entry are closed.
This MIGHT be our last ninety-degree day of the season, unless tomorrow is warmer than the mid to high eighties expected--OR another near-record heat wave sets up in early October!