Friday could be DC’s hottest day in years as heat wave bakes region

Ivy Lyons | ilyons@wtop.com
Abigail Constantino | aconstantino@wtop.com
Thomas Robertson | trobertson@wtop.com

July 28, 2023, 12:30 PM

Dangerous heat is lingering over the District as a heat wave that began Wednesday drives temperatures ever closer to 100 degrees. If reported highs crest into the triple digits, it will be the first for the region since 2016.

The National Weather Service issued an excessive heat warning across the D.C. region from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, predicting extreme heat and humidity that can significantly increase the potential for heat-related illnesses.

“When it comes to weather-related fatalities, heat is the No. 1 killer, more than lightning, more than floods, more than tornadoes and hurricanes,” 7News First Alert Chief Meteorologist Veronica Johnson said.

The weather service advised people to drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room and check up on relatives and neighbors. If possible, the weather service encouraged people to move outdoor activities indoors until the early morning or late evening, when it won’t be as hot. ... “We want folks, really, to heed what we’re saying here: 110 degrees is where the heat index may be for several hours [Friday]. Because of that, we’re not just under a heat advisory — we’re under an excessive heat warning, which is so rare for this area. The last one we had was four years back,” Johnson said.

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WTOP’s Acacia James and the Associated Press contributed to this report.