In the D.C. area, the summer solstice has brought a reminder that heat doesn’t just make people sluggish. It can affect transportation infrastructure too.
Metro has instituted a systemwide speed restriction, limiting all trains to a maximum of 35 mph when they’re above ground due to rail temperatures exceeding 135 degrees Fahrenheit. The limit took effect today (Thursday) at 2 p.m.
RELAC Water Cooling will begin delivering air-conditioning services to residents and businesses in Reston’s Lake Anne area this weekend — ahead of its official launch date of May 22.
The volunteer-run utility announced today that it will “go live” tomorrow (Saturday) to test its services, providing chilled water from the artificial lake to cool 635 residential and commercial properties.
The county is activating its heat plan for the second day in a row this week.
With a Heat Advisory in effect from noon to 7 p.m. today (Wednesday), the heat plan intended to offer cooling centers during normal operating hours. The centers will also provide supplies like bottled water, sunscreen, insect repellent, and body wipes.
The county has activated its heat plan for today (Tuesday) as temperates climb today.
Cooling centers around the county will be available during normal operating hours in response to a National Weather Service heat advisory that is in effect from noon to 8 p.m.
It’s another stifling day in Fairfax County with no immediate relief in sight.
As of 11 a.m., temperatures at Fort Belvoir had reached 90 degrees, but thanks to 65% humidity, it likely feels closer to 103 degrees outside, according to the National Weather Service.
(Updated at 2:05 p.m.) A Heat Advisory will take effect tomorrow (Thursday) for the D.C. area, including Fairfax County, with temperatures expected to near 100 degrees.
Released by the National Weather Service this morning, the alert is slated to be in place from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. tomorrow.
As homelessness increases in Fairfax County, affected residents can use revamped county resources to cope with extreme summer heat.
The county will activate its extreme heat response when the National Weather Service issues a heat advisory, excessive heat watch or excessive heat warning.
In an effort to reduce heat islands in vulnerable communities, the Fairfax County Department of Public Works and Environmental Services has applied for millions of dollars in grant funding to establish a street tree planting program.
The county will use its Vulnerability Index to identify communities in need of the program, according to county staff.
Fairfax County and the rest of the D.C. area should be on alert for potential outdoor fire hazards today (Wednesday), the National Weather Service says.
A combination of wind gusts and dry weather has created an “elevated threat” of wildfires throughout the region until the early evening, according to a special weather statement issued just after 9 a.m.
With the D.C. area’s summer heat in full swing, local organizers worry that there are too few options for unhoused residents in the county to cool down.
Last month, the Fairfax County NAACP approved a resolution calling on Fairfax County to improve heat relief services for low-income residents and those experiencing homelessness in the county.
