Historic Heat Wave Hits Washington DC

Temperatures soar to 90 degrees, challenging April records

Apr. 14, 2026 at 4:05pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A sweeping, atmospheric landscape painting depicting the iconic skyline of Washington DC shrouded in a hazy, shimmering heat haze, with the natural elements dwarfing the physical structures and conveying the oppressive power of the extreme weather conditions.As an early-season heat wave grips the nation's capital, the overwhelming force of nature overwhelms the built environment.Washington Today

A historic heat wave is bringing record-high temperatures to the Washington DC area this week, with some parts of the DMV reaching 90 degrees as spring suddenly feels like summer. The National Weather Service says the high temperatures are caused by high pressure building over the Mid-Atlantic, preventing cooling fronts from moving through. Temperatures could challenge the all-time April record of 95 degrees on Wednesday.

Why it matters

Early-season heat waves can hit harder than people expect, as routines, clothing, and outdoor plans have not yet adjusted to summerlike conditions. The extreme heat poses risks to public health, especially for vulnerable populations, and can strain power grids and infrastructure.

The details

The National Weather Service said high temperatures this week in the Washington DC region are caused by high pressure building over the Mid-Atlantic, preventing cooling fronts from moving through. Temperatures will reach 89 degrees on Tuesday, far exceeding the average high of 67 degrees for April 14. DC could see the earliest 90-degree day since 2013, and the all-time April record of 95 degrees could be challenged on Wednesday.

  • On Tuesday, temperatures will reach 89 degrees.
  • On Wednesday, temperatures could reach 93 degrees.
  • On Thursday, temperatures could reach 92 degrees.

The players

National Weather Service

The federal agency responsible for weather forecasting and issuing weather-related warnings.

Matt Benz

AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist

Capital Weather Gang

The Washington Post's weather reporting team

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“This is impressive heat for mid-April, arriving weeks earlier than we typically see in many cities. Early-season heat can hit harder than people expect because it arrives before routines, clothing and outdoor plans have adjusted to summerlike conditions.”

— Matt Benz, AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist

“This is 'unreasonably warm' weather for the DC area.”

— Capital Weather Gang

What’s next

A cold front is upcoming, but as of Tuesday it was too early to tell when it would arrive to provide relief from the heat.

The takeaway

This early-season heat wave is challenging records and posing risks to public health, underscoring the need for communities to be prepared for the impacts of extreme weather events that are arriving earlier and with greater intensity due to climate change.