Here’s one more thing Pope Francis can note in his sermon when he celebrates Mass in Washington on September 28: By then, if current weather patterns hold up, the climate-change-fighting pontiff can point out that DC might be busting through its record for most days in which the temperature tops 90 degrees.
Today is the 18th day so far this year in which the mercury has passed 90 degrees at Washington Reagan National Airport. As of the composition of this sentence, it is 94 degrees, with a heat index that makes the air feel one degree warmer.
By comparison, Washington had 24 days at 90 degrees or higher in all of 2014, according to historical weather data. Although last year was cooler than average for the eastern United States, it still went down as the hottest year on record since the federal government first started tracking weather in 1880.
Last month, with seven days at or above 90 degrees, and an average temperature of 73.2 degrees, was the hottest May in Washington on record, and a record-hot June could be within grasp. (The average temperature for the month is 73.9 degrees, according to the National Weather Service.) Forecasts for Tuesday project temperatures reaching the high 90s, if not a full 100 degrees, with brutal humidity to match.
The hottest year in Washington’s recorded-weather history was 2010, when thermometers hit 90 degrees 67 times. This year is on pace to beat that mark: through June 22 of 2010, DC had only recorded 16 days above 90.
Benjamin Freed joined Washingtonian in August 2013 and covers politics, business, and media. He was previously the editor of DCist and has also written for Washington City Paper, the New York Times, the New Republic, Slate, and BuzzFeed. He lives in Adams Morgan.
It’s Not Your Imagination. You Are Melting.
It's hot. Disgustingly, mercilessly hot. And it will be for several more days.
Here’s one more thing Pope Francis can note in his sermon when he celebrates Mass in Washington on September 28: By then, if current weather patterns hold up, the climate-change-fighting pontiff can point out that DC might be busting through its record for most days in which the temperature tops 90 degrees.
Today is the 18th day so far this year in which the mercury has passed 90 degrees at Washington Reagan National Airport. As of the composition of this sentence, it is 94 degrees, with a heat index that makes the air feel one degree warmer.
By comparison, Washington had 24 days at 90 degrees or higher in all of 2014, according to historical weather data. Although last year was cooler than average for the eastern United States, it still went down as the hottest year on record since the federal government first started tracking weather in 1880.
Last month, with seven days at or above 90 degrees, and an average temperature of 73.2 degrees, was the hottest May in Washington on record, and a record-hot June could be within grasp. (The average temperature for the month is 73.9 degrees, according to the National Weather Service.) Forecasts for Tuesday project temperatures reaching the high 90s, if not a full 100 degrees, with brutal humidity to match.
The hottest year in Washington’s recorded-weather history was 2010, when thermometers hit 90 degrees 67 times. This year is on pace to beat that mark: through June 22 of 2010, DC had only recorded 16 days above 90.
Benjamin Freed joined Washingtonian in August 2013 and covers politics, business, and media. He was previously the editor of DCist and has also written for Washington City Paper, the New York Times, the New Republic, Slate, and BuzzFeed. He lives in Adams Morgan.
Most Popular in News & Politics
The Missing Men of Mount Pleasant
Another Mysterious Anti-Trump Statue Has Appeared on the National Mall
Muriel Bowser Defends Her BLM Plaza Decision and Looks Back on a Decade as Mayor
Yet Another Anti-Trump Statue Has Shown Up on the National Mall
8 Takeaways From Usha Vance’s Interview With Meghan McCain
Washingtonian Magazine
July Issue: The "Best Of" Issue
View IssueSubscribe
Follow Us on Social
Follow Us on Social
Related
How Would a New DC Stadium Compare to the Last One?
The Culture of Lacrosse Is More Complex Than People Think
Did Television Begin in Dupont Circle?
Kings Dominion’s Wild New Coaster Takes Flight in Virginia
More from News & Politics
Guest List: 5 People We’d Love to Hang Out With This July
The Washington Nationals Just Fired the Manager and GM Who Led Them to a Championship. Why Has the Team Been so Bad Since?
FBI Building Now on Track to Leave DC After All, Whistleblower Leaks Texts Suggesting Justice Department Planned to Blow Off Federal Court Orders, and NPS Cuts Leave Assateague Island Without Lifeguards
Families of DC Air Disaster Victims Criticize Army’s Response, Trump Settles His Scores Via Tariff, and Police Dog Kicked at Dulles Returns to Work
This DC-Area Lawyer Wants More Americans Betting on Elections
Trump Threatens DC Takeover, Says He’d Run the City “So Good”; Supreme Court OKs Mass Federal Worker Layoffs; and You Should Go Pick Some Sunflowers
Trump Pledges Support for RFK Stadium Plan, Ben’s Chili Bowl Will Strand Us Half-Smokeless for Months, and Pediatricians Are Suing RFK Jr.
Muriel Bowser Defends Her BLM Plaza Decision and Looks Back on a Decade as Mayor