RSS
Home
On this date in D.C.
Print
Email
RSS
Subscribe
(2).jpg)
July 4, 1999:
High pressure sat off the Mid-Atlantic coast from the 4th through the 7th, acting like a heat pump drawing extremely warm and humid air into the region. Temperatures on the 4th through early on the 7th were oppressively hot, and extremely humid. These conditions continued until a cold front swept through the area during the afternoon of the 7th, ushering in cooler and much less humid air. During peak daytime heating, the mercury soared into the upper 90s to lower 100s with dew points in the lower to middle 70s making it very uncomfortable. New record highs were recorded at Washington National Airport on the 5th and 6th, as the high temperature at National Airport was 99 degrees on the 4th, 102 degrees on the 5th, and 103 degrees on the 6th. DuPont Circle saw the mercury rise to 100 degrees on the 4th, 103 degrees on the 5th, and 104 degrees on the 6th. Over 525 people, including many tourists in Washington for the Independence Day festivities, were treated for mild heat related illnesses. One hundred forty people had to be taken to area hospitals suffering from more serious complications. District officials set up free water stations and first aid stations on the Mall to assist visitors and participants. During the late evening fireworks displays, spectators had to brave temperatures in the upper 80s and heat index values in the middle 90s. City officials also opened 5 cooling centers and offered 13 fire hydrants with sprinkler heads for permanent city residents without air conditioning. Over 700 district residents took advantage of the shelters. Even with the available resources, three people succumbed to heat related illnesses. The heat forced the city to cancel summer school classes on the 6th. PEPCO reported record high energy consumption during the late afternoon of the 5th and 6th. The high demand for electrical power blew old transformers, leading to power outages for 1,900 district customers.
July 4, 2004:
Showers and thunderstorms developed along a stalled frontal boundary in the Washington, DC Metropolitan area on the 4th of July. Record rainfall occurred in the District, flooding many downtown streets. The 2.18" of rain lead to the cancellation of many outdoor activities, including the National Independence Day Parade.
July 4, 2006:
Large elm trees and event tents were blown down on the National Mall, in addition to a building collapsed in the Southeast District to a due to severe thunderstorms. Thousands of festival goers were successfully evacuated from the area during the National Folklife Festival, just before the 4th of July Fireworks Display. The National Weather Service staffed a coordination center with the National Park Service during this major event. A frontal boundary sagged south into the Mid Atlantic on July 2, and combined with very strong daytime heating and instability, contributed to scattered severe thunderstorm activity. Many locations throughout the metro area experienced wind damage from the severe thunderstorms. Newspaper reports indicated in excess of 100,000 customers without power in the Washington Metro Region.
Photo Credit: Flickr.com
Info Credit: National Climatic Data Center (NCDC)
Related Articles:
Add a Comment
