WASHINGTON (7News) — Heat and humidity continue Wednesday, although temperatures are trending a little lower thanks to a weak cold front. Highs should reach the upper 80s to lower 90s with heat index values in the upper 90s to near 100 degrees. The record high for Sept. 2 is 101 at Reagan National, set in 1980, and 99 at Dulles, also set in 1980, so those records appear safe.
The Storm Alert Weather team is on a WEATHER ALERT Wednesday as thunderstorm timing remains uncertain, but the potential for severe storms during the evening and overnight hours remains. The Storm Prediction Center has the DMV in the Level 2 out of 5 ‘Slight’ risk category.
The threats from scattered severe storms are damaging wind gusts, hail, and an isolated weak tornado. The risk for a tornado is very low, but not zero. The Storm Prediction Center has given the DMV a 2% chance for a tornado to occur within 25 miles of a point.
Temperatures will fall into the lower 70s by dawn with continued high humidity. Thursday begins dry, but storm chances increase again later in the day.
Thursday’s highs climb even more to the middle 90s with heat index values above 100 degrees. The September 3 record high is 98 at Reagan National, set in 1953, and 99 at Dulles, set in 2023; both records currently look out of reach…