When was the hottest day in DC

So the hottest day in DC history? That'd be August 6, 1918, and then again on July 20, 1930. Both hit a brutal 106 Fahrenheit (41.1 Celsius). It's been over a century since the first one, and we've had some nasty heat waves since. But those two dates? They're still the kings of swelter in the nation's capital. Nothing's topped 'em.

Those days were just a perfect storm of awful weather. You had this big high-pressure system just sitting there, plus clear skies and bone-dry air. The sun just baked the city. Our modern heat waves are dangerous, sure, but they haven't cracked that old record.

What was the highest temperature ever recorded in Washington, D.C.?

106 degrees. That's it. The highest ever officially recorded. And it happened twice—August 6, 1918, and July 20, 1930. Those are the two hottest days in DC's recorded history, tied at the top.

Now, the weather station has moved around over the years. But the National Weather Service says these records are official and unbroken. Since 1930, nobody's hit that mark or gone higher. Not even close.

How does the hottest day in DC compare to other cities?

106 is brutal for DC, but it's not the hottest in the US. Not even close. Let's look at how it stacks up against other East Coast cities:

So DC's record is right in line with its neighbors. Tied with NYC and Philly, just one degree behind Baltimore and Richmond. The weird thing? DC's record is ancient—early 20th century—while other cities have broken records way more recently.

What are the top 5 hottest days in DC history?

Beyond those 106-degree days, a few others came close. Here's the list:

• 1. 106°F - August 6, 1918 and July 20, 1930 (tied for first place)
• 2. 105°F - July 10, 1936 (a very close second)
• 3. 104°F - July 21, 1930 and July 9, 1936 (tied for third)
• 4. 103°F - Multiple dates including August 7, 1918; July 8, 1936; and July 25, 2012
• 5. 102°F - Multiple dates including July 22, 2011 and July 6, 2012

Notice a pattern? Most of the extreme heat happened during the Dust Bowl era of the 1930s. Modern heat waves—like 2011 and 2012—hit 102 or 103, but they haven't touched those old records.

Why hasn't the record been broken in modern times?

You'd think with climate change, we'd be smashing records left and right. But DC's record has stood for over 90 years. Why? A few things:

• Urban Heat Island Effect: Yeah, DC's hotter on average now because of all the concrete and buildings. But those record days in 1918 and 1930? They were driven by a perfect setup—a massive high-pressure system stuck over the region with bone-dry air. Modern heat waves are often more humid. They feel worse, but the humidity actually keeps the dry-bulb temperature from climbing as high.
• Weather Station Changes: The official station moved from downtown to Reagan National Airport. That spot near the Potomac River can be a bit cooler than downtown. So maybe some downtown locations hit 106 or higher, but the official record stays at the airport's reading.
• Statistical Rarity: A 106-degree day is just a freak event. Even with a warming climate, it's rare. You need everything to line up perfectly. It could happen, but so far it hasn't.

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