Potentially record-breaking heat is expected to take hold of the D.C. area, as the nation’s 250th anniversary nears.
A Heat Advisory issued by the National Weather Service is scheduled to take effect from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. today (Wednesday), followed by an Extreme Heat Watch that will be in place from 11 a.m. tomorrow (Thursday) until 8 p.m. on Friday, July 3.
Temperatures are forecast to hit a high of 98 degrees today and 101-102 degrees during the heat watch, but thanks to the region’s infamous humidity, it could feel as hot as 115 degrees in places along the I-95 corridor later this week, according to the NWS.
A Heat Advisory (7/1) & Extreme Heat Watches (7/2 & 7/3) are in effect as unusually hot air moves over the East with hot & humid conditions through the weekend. Multiple days of 100F+ heat indices are anticipated. Learn how to protect yourself from heat at https://t.co/HINKF6Ub6g pic.twitter.com/Rmq5XtC3I0
— NWS Baltimore-Washington (@NWS_BaltWash) June 30, 2026
More from the National Weather Service:
…HEAT ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM TO 8 PM EDT WEDNESDAY…
…EXTREME HEAT WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM THURSDAY MORNING THROUGH FRIDAY EVENING…* WHAT…For the Heat Advisory, heat index values of 105 to 109 expected. For the Extreme Heat Watch, dangerously hot conditions with heat index values around 110 possible.
* WHERE…DC, and portions of central, north central, northeast, northern, and southern Maryland, and central, northern, and northwest Virginia.
* WHEN…For the Heat Advisory, from 11 AM to 8 PM EDT Wednesday. For the Extreme Heat Watch, from Thursday morning through Friday evening.
* IMPACTS…Heat related illnesses increase significantly during extreme heat and high humidity events. Hot temperatures and high humidity may cause heat illnesses.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS…Heat index values may approach 115 in spots near and east of Interstate 95 Thursday afternoon and Friday afternoon, especially near larger bodies of water. Dangerous heat may linger into Saturday. Prolonged extreme heat could impact power, water, and transportation systems.
If the forecasted highs materialize, it could set all-time records for early July in the D.C. region, according to Capital Weather. The highest temperatures ever recorded at Dulles International Airport for the first four days of July are:
- July 1: 96 in 2012
- July 2: 98 in 1966
- July 3: 103 in 1966
- July 4: 97 in 2022
The highest temperature recorded at Dulles for any day was 105 degrees on July 22, 2011, per NWS data, which date back to April 1960 for the airport.
The NWS is predicting this week’s heat wave to affect approximately 180 million people across the central and eastern U.S.
“Unfortunately, little overnight relief can be expected either as temperatures after sunset only dip into the 70s, which will compound the impacts of the daytime heat,” the agency said in a forecast discussion released yesterday afternoon. “Users are reminded to limit outdoor activity, stay hydrated, and ensure access to cooling centers.”
With a variety of outdoor activities, including fireworks shows, planned this week for the Fourth of July, Fairfax County urged residents to take precautions.
“This is not just a hot week; it is a week where the heat itself can become dangerous if you are not prepared,” the county said in an emergency blog post. “Plan your outdoor time around the cooler hours, stay hydrated, keep an eye on the people around you and know where to find air conditioning if your home does not have it.”
Our heat plan will go into effect beginning at 11 a.m. today and will continue through Friday, July 3.
Our cooling centers will be open during normal operating hours. On July 3, most of our cooling centers will not be open; Rec Centers will be open during limited hours.
— Fairfax County Government (@fairfaxcounty.gov) July 1, 2026 at 10:00 AM
The county has activated its heat plan starting today at 11 a.m. through Friday, allowing workers to distribute water, sunscreen and other resources to people in the community and at designated cooling centers.
The cooling centers, which include community centers, libraries and other public facilities, will be open during their normal operating hours today and tomorrow, but most will close on Friday, when the county government will observe Independence Day.
All rec centers will be open on Friday for their regular weekday hours from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m., except for the George Washington Rec Center (8426 Old Mount Vernon Road) in Mount Vernon, which will have shortened hours of 6:30-11:30 a.m.
School activities canceled, Independence Day Celebration delayed
Fairfax County Public Schools has canceled all outdoor activities on school grounds between 11 a.m. and 8 p.m. today in light of the heat advisory, Superintendent Michelle Reid announced shortly before 9 a.m.
The move includes any co-curricular or extracurricular activities as well as recreational or community programs by groups not affiliated with FCPS. School groundskeepers, landscapers and other employees whose job typically requires them to be outside have also been instructed to complete indoor activities, such as training or maintenance, instead.
Similar cancellations can likely be expected tomorrow and Friday, as the heat index continues to soar.
In addition, the Town of Vienna announced yesterday that its waste collection crews will pick up trash and recycling as early as 6 a.m., starting today through Monday, July 6, “to mitigate potential heat-related health risks” for its workers and residents.
The town has also delayed the start of its Independence Day celebration tomorrow from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Fireworks are still expected to start around 9:30 p.m. or after dark.
Tips for surviving the incoming heat wave from Fairfax County include:
- Drink water before you feel thirsty. Thirst is already a sign you are behind on fluids. Keep water with you and sip it throughout the day, even if you are not very active.
- Stay in air conditioning as much as you can. A fan helps you feel more comfortable, but it does not protect you from heat illness the way air conditioning does.
- Move outdoor work and exercise to early morning or evening. The hottest part of the day usually runs from late morning through late afternoon. If you have to be outside, plan around those hours when you can.
- Dress for the heat. Light-colored, loose-fitting clothing helps your body release heat instead of trapping it.
- Take real breaks if you work outside. OSHA recommends frequent breaks in shade or air conditioning for anyone doing physical work outdoors during a heat event like this one.
- Check on neighbors, especially older adults. Seniors, young children and people with chronic health conditions face higher risk during extreme heat. A quick phone call or knock on the door can catch a problem early.
- Never leave kids or pets in a parked car. Car interiors can climb past 120 degrees within minutes, even with windows cracked. This is one of the most common and most preventable causes of heat death every summer.
- Keep an eye on pets. Hot pavement can burn paw pads, and animals can overheat just like people. Walk dogs during cooler hours and always make sure they have shade and water.
