A RECORD LOW MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE OF 71 DEGREES WAS SET AT WASHINGTONThe Dulles and Baltimore/BWI records were 69°.
NATIONAL DC YESTERDAY...JULY 21ST. THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 74
DEGREES THAT WAS SET IN 1984...1939 AND 1886.
1 AM Update: And the 1 am temperature is again 70°, so the new record low maximum is pretty well set.
Some remedial math for Tom Nelson fans:
Total area of District of Columbia: 68 sq. mi.
Total area of Maryland: 12407 sq. mi.
Total area of U.S.: 3,794,100 sq. mi.
Total number of days in July: 31
Midnight Update: The temperature has held at 70° for 5 out of the last 6 hours, so the final high is likely to remain at 71°, setting a new record for July 21.
Attention Tom Nelson fans: Here is the context he's left out:
Washington on Track for 3rd Top-3 Hottest July in As Many Years
Original Post:
Some sun could still break through and nudge the temperature up a few degrees, but the high temperatures so far today in the Washington/Baltimore area are likely to break records for the coldest maximum on July 21:
Location High Departure Previous recordAlthough the 18 to 20 degree departures from average are spectacular, the same low clouds, drizzle, and light rain which depressed the daily highs have also kept the daily lows elevated, so the overall averages are in the -10° to -11° range relative to climatology.
Washington National 71 -18 74 /1984
Washington Dulles 68 -20 75 /1984
Baltimore BWI 69 -18 73 /1984
The daily average of 69° at Washington National, if it holds, will be the 3rd coldest July 21 since 1929, when the average was 68°. The average on this date in 1939 was 68.5°. The low in 1929 was accomplished the old-fashioned way, with a daily low of 58°. The record low for July 21 was 56° in 1909.