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How hot is it in D.C. today? Record-setting hot.

The sweltering temperatures set daily and monthly records throughout the area

A long and wide reflecting pool with a large obelisk in the background. There are trees along the pool’s promenade.
Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool
Getty Images/iStockphoto

You could be forgiven for thinking it’s July rather than October in the D.C. region today. The National Weather Service (NWS) says the temperature at Reagan National Airport broke an October record earlier this afternoon: 97 degrees Fahrenheit, one degree above the previous record for the month, which was set almost 80 years ago, in 1941. D.C. area temperatures are approximately 20 to 25 degrees higher than they normally are, according to weather officials.

NWS also reports that all three area airports—Reagan, Baltimore–Washington International, and Dulles International—by noon shattered daily temperature records, last set in the 1980s.

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser around 1 p.m. declared a heat emergency, activating municipal resources such as cooling centers to serve heat-sensitive residents. According to the Capital Weather Gang, “Wednesday also marked the 61st day at or above 90 in Washington in 2019, ranking as the third most on record in a calendar year, only trailing 1980 and 2010, which had 67 such days.” A heat dome over the eastern U.S. is supposed to dissipate by tomorrow.

Update, 2:30 p.m.:

Baltimore–Washington International Airport has also set a monthly temperature record.

Update, 4 p.m.:

Count Dulles International among the airports that broke October heat records today, too.

Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA)

2401 S Smith Blvd, Arlington, VA 22202 (703) 417-8000 Visit Website