Forecast Details for Washington, DC

Recent Locations: Washington, DC

Current Alerts for Washington, DC: Extreme Heat Warning Extreme Heat Watch

Today: Sunny and hot, with a high near 102. Heat index values as high as 111. Calm wind becoming northwest around 6 mph in the afternoon.

Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 79. Light northwest wind.

Wednesday: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2pm. Sunny and hot, with a high near 99. Heat index values as high as 108. Calm wind becoming northwest around 5 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Wednesday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly between 8pm and 2am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 78. Light northwest wind. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Thursday: A slight chance of showers before 2pm, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm between 2pm and 5pm, then showers and thunderstorms likely after 5pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 95. Calm wind becoming southwest around 6 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Thursday Night: Showers and thunderstorms likely before 8pm, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm between 8pm and 2am, then a chance of showers after 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 71. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Friday: A chance of showers before 8am, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 82. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Friday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 71. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Saturday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 89. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Saturday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 74. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Sunday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 93. Chance of precipitation is 50%.

Sunday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 74. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Monday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 94. Chance of precipitation is 50%.

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Current U.S. National Radar--Current

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National Weather Forecast--Current

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National Weather Forecast for Tomorrow

Tomorrow National Weather Forecast and Tomorrow National Weather Map are show below.

North America Water Vapor (Moisture)

This map shows recent moisture content over North America. Bright and colored areas show high moisture (ie, clouds); brown indicates very little moisture present; black indicates no moisture.

Weather Topic: What are Cirrus Clouds?

Home - Education - Cloud Types - Cirrus Clouds

Next Topic: Condensation

Cirrus clouds are high-level clouds that occur above 20,000 feet and are composed mainly of ice crystals. They are thin and wispy in appearance.

What do they indicate?
They are often the first sign of an approaching storm.

Next Topic: Condensation

Weather Topic: What are Contrails?

Home - Education - Cloud Types - Contrails

Next Topic: Cumulonimbus Clouds

A contrail is an artificial cloud, created by the passing of an aircraft.

Contrails form because water vapor in the exhaust of aircraft engines is suspended in the air under certain temperatures and humidity conditions. These contrails are called exhaust contrails.

Another type of contrail can form due to a temporary reduction in air pressure moving over the plane's surface, causing condensation. These are called aerodynamic contrails.

When you can see your breath on a cold day, it is also because of condensation. The reason contrails last longer than the condensation from your breath is because the water in contrails freezes into ice particles.

Next Topic: Cumulonimbus Clouds