Washington, DC
District of Columbia · Records since 1871–2026
Records for August 16
🔥 Record High
August 16, 1997
+14° from 88° normal❄ Record Low
August 16, 1921
-17° from 71° normalAll-Time Records — Washington
Top 10 Record Highs — August 16
| # | Temp | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 🏆 | 102°F | August 16, 1997 |
| 2 | 97°F | August 16, 2016 |
| 3 | 95°F | August 16, 2002 |
| 4 | 95°F | August 16, 1995 |
| 5 | 95°F | August 16, 1939 |
| 6 | 95°F | August 16, 1938 |
| 7 | 94°F | August 16, 2015 |
| 8 | 94°F | August 16, 1988 |
| 9 | 94°F | August 16, 1970 |
| 10 | 94°F | August 16, 1966 |
Top 5 Record Lows — August 16
| # | Temp | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 🥶 | 54°F | August 16, 1921 |
| 2 | 55°F | August 16, 1924 |
| 3 | 56°F | August 16, 1927 |
| 4 | 56°F | August 16, 1893 |
| 5 | 56°F | August 16, 1889 |
Heat Wave Summary — Washington
threshold: 94°F (90th percentile of historical Jun–Aug highs)2026 Daily High Temperature vs Normal
Year to date110 of 227 days with data were above the 1991–2020 normal high for their date.
Days ≥ 90°F Per Year
1872–2026Average Daily High by Decade
Full year · complete decades only
Longest Heat Waves — Washington
| # | Dates | Days | Peak | Avg High | Avg Overnight Low |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🏆 | Jun 28, 2012 – Jul 8, 2012 | 11 | 105°F (Jul 7) | 100°F | 76°F |
| 2 | Aug 1, 1980 – Aug 11, 1980 | 11 | 100°F (Aug 8) | 97°F | 77°F |
| 3 | Aug 11, 2002 – Aug 20, 2002 | 10 | 100°F (Aug 13) | 97°F | 76°F |
| 4 | Jul 19, 1987 – Jul 27, 1987 | 9 | 100°F (Jul 21) | 97°F | 77°F |
| 5 | Jul 28, 2002 – Aug 5, 2002 | 9 | 100°F (Aug 2) | 97°F | 76°F |
| 6 | Jun 29, 1901 – Jul 6, 1901 | 8 | 102°F (Jul 1) | 97°F | 73°F |
| 7 | Aug 26, 1980 – Sep 2, 1980 | 8 | 101°F (Sep 2) | 97°F | 75°F |
| 8 | Aug 10, 2016 – Aug 17, 2016 | 8 | 101°F (Aug 13) | 98°F | 77°F |
| 9 | Aug 27, 1953 – Sep 3, 1953 | 8 | 100°F (Aug 31) | 98°F | 72°F |
| 10 | Jul 4, 1993 – Jul 11, 1993 | 8 | 100°F (Jul 8) | 98°F | 77°F |
Heat Waves Per Year
Warm Summer Nights (Jun–Aug)
Nights where the overnight low exceeded the 1991–2020 normal low
Above-Normal Summer Nights Per Year
Average June–August Low by Decade
Overnight lows · complete decades only
Precipitation
Actual vs. 1991–2020 full-month and full-season normals
Monthly Precipitation — Last 24 Months
Blue = actual · dashed line = monthly normal
Annual Precipitation Per Year (1970–2026)
Blue = above average · tan = below average · gold = 2026 (partial)
Heavy Rain Days Per Year (≥ 1.0")
Compare year-to-year changes in days with heavy rainfall (≥ 1.0")
Month in Review — July 2026
Average temperature · July 2026
19th-warmest month on record
17th-warmest July of 155 on record
+1.2° vs. 80.6° average (1991–2020)Longest 90°F Streak in July
6 consecutive days with highs of at least 90°F (Jul 1–6, 2026, peaking at 103°F)
The longest July streak since 2025 (1 year). The July record is 16 days, set in 1993.
Average July Temperature by Year
1872–2026 · 2026 highlighted
Warmest Julys on Record
| # | Year | Avg Temp |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2011 | 84.5°F |
| 2 | 2012 | 84.0°F |
| 3 | 2020 | 83.9°F |
| 4 | 2024 | 83.7°F |
| 5 | 1993 | 83.1°F |
| 6 | 2010 | 83.1°F |
| 7 | 1999 | 83.0°F |
| 8 | 2016 | 82.7°F |
| 9 | 1987 | 82.6°F |
| 10 | 2025 | 82.4°F |
Warmest Months on Record (Any Month)
| # | Month | Avg Temp |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | July 2011 | 84.5°F |
| 2 | July 2012 | 84.0°F |
| 3 | July 2020 | 83.9°F |
| 4 | July 2024 | 83.7°F |
| 5 | July 1993 | 83.1°F |
| 6 | July 2010 | 83.1°F |
| 7 | July 1999 | 83.0°F |
| 8 | August 1980 | 82.8°F |
| 9 | August 2016 | 82.7°F |
| 10 | July 2016 | 82.7°F |
Nearby Stations — July 2026
How the same month ranked at the closest reporting stations
| Station | Avg Temp | July Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Washington, DC | 81.7°F | 17th of 155 |
| Sterling-Dulles Airport, VA | 78.7°F | 14th of 65 |
| Annapolis, MD | 79.6°F | 29th of 119 |
| Baltimore Downtown, MD | 81.4°F | 31st of 71 |
| Baltimore, MD | 78.9°F | 47th of 154 |