A day of record-shattering heat ends with the threat of severe thunderstorms, which aren't likely to offer the mercury much of a break. We could be in the record heat business again Saturday.
A line of potentially dangerous storms is moving through the area. It could produce damaging winds in excess of 80 mph that could knock down trees and cause power outages. There is potential for quarter-size hail and lightning.
Those along I-95 and west of I-95 were under a
at 10 p.m., and warnings are expected closer to D.C. as the storms continue moving through the area. A tornado warning for Allegany and Washington counties in Maryland expired at 9:45 p.m.
At 10:09 p.m. the line of storms extended from seven miles northeast of Brunswick to Oatlands to 10 miles south of Bealton to 25 miles west of Massaponax. They were moving east at 60 mph.
News4's Derrick Ward tracked down people who work outside, golf spectators and more to find out how they're handling the heat.
Pat Collins finds out how to take care of plants, pets and people in record-breaking heat.
A severe thunderstorm watch expires at 1 a.m. for D.C.; Allegany, Charles, Frederick, Garrett, Montgomery, Prince George's and Washington counties in Maryland; and Arlington, Culpeper, Fairfax, Fauquier, Loudoun, Prince William, Rappahannock, Spotsylvania and Stafford counties in Virginia.There is potential for hail, but the biggest threat is strong winds that could knock down trees and cause power outages. These storms have produced major wind damage in West Virginia and Ohio with gusts up to 75 mph. There was also a tornado warning with this line of storms in West Virginia. There have also been many lightning strikes.
The line of storms is expected to be off the coast by 5 a.m.
At 9:50 p.m., Pepco was reporting 14,322 power outages. As of 9:55 p.m., Dominion Power was reporting 318 outages in northern Virginia and 85,908 outages in the Shendoah Valley/Western Piedmont.
The high temperature was 104 degrees at Reagan National Airport Friday afternoon, setting a record not only for the day, but for the entire month of June. Last year we set a record with a 102-degree day in June.
The previous June 29 record of 101 degrees was set in 1874 and tied in 1934. In the past 142 years, D.C. has seen the temperature reach 104 degrees only 10 times.
A record was set at Dulles International Airport, too. It's reached 102 degrees there. The previous record was 95.
A heat advisory was replaced with an excessive heat warning until 9 p.m. Friday for northern Virginia, D.C. and Baltimore. The advisory remained in effect for the rest of the area until 9 p.m. A hyperthermia alert and a Code Red for air quality also were issued.
The heat index -- which factors in humidity -- reached 112 degrees for Washington and got up to 117 in Leesburg, Va.; 112 in Fredericksburg, Culpeper and Manassas in Virginia; 114 in LaPlata, Md.; and 112 in Frederick, Md., according to Storm4 meteorologist Doug Kammerer.
On the Billy Goat Trail, a hiker was overcome by the heat and had to be rescued by boat.
Nine Girl Scouts at an event in Benedict, Md., were taken to hospitals because of heat exhaustion. Several others were taken to the Benedict Fire Department to cool off.
At the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, seven children were taken to a local hospital with heat exhaustion. They are expected to be OK.
There's a chance for more storms Saturday and Sunday. The best chances Saturday will be to the north and west of D.C.
There's also a chance to tie a record high at Reagan National and Dulles on Saturday, said Storm 4 meteorologist Kim Martucci. The high of 100 was set in 1959, and it is possible we could reach triple digits on Saturday. The all-time high at Dulles on Saturday is 98, and once again that record could be broken.
An excessive heat watch will be in effect from Saturday morning through Saturday evening.
Because of the advisory, Ride On will provide extra bus service for spectators going to the AT&T National at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda.
Temperatures will slowly -- and we mean slowly -- decrease after Saturday.
Sunday's high could reach 99, but Monday's high may only(!) hit 94, followed by 94 Tuesday, 93 on the Fourth of July and 90 on Thursday.
To help residents beat the heat, the D.C. Department of Parks and Recreation is extending swimming pool hours. Click here for more information.
D.C.'s Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency advised people take the following precautions:
- Stay indoors as much as possible.
- Turn on the air conditioner or fan.
- DO NOT leave children or pets in vehicles.
- Pay special attention to young children, the elderly and the mentally ill.
- Drink plenty of water.
- Wear light-colored, lightweight and loose-fitting clothes.
- Apply sunscreen at least 20 minutes before going outside (SPF 15-30 is best).
- Limit exposure to the sun (the sun is most powerful between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.).
- Watch for heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
- If you do not have access to a cool-temperature location, visit one of the District’s cooled indoor facilities referred to above.
Symptoms of heat stroke:
- Hot, dry skin (no sweating)
- Hallucinations
- Chills
- Throbbing headache
- High body temperature
- Confusion/dizziness
- Slurred speech
Groups at greatest risk for heat-related illness:
- Infants
- Children up to four years of age
- People 65 years of age and older
- People who are overweight
- People who are ill or on certain medications.
Stay with News4 and NBCWashington.com for the latest on any heat-related advisories.
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