On this date in 1980, the temperature soared to a calendar-day record of 102 degrees. It came one day after a high of 103, which was also a record until in 1988, when it hit 104. The summer of 1980 was exceptionally hot, with 67 days reaching 90 degrees or higher — tied with 2010 for the most on record.
And on this date in 2018, a calendar-day record 2.79 inches of rain fell. It brought a dramatic halt to a record July dry streak in which no measurable rain had fallen in the first 16 days of the month. “In 42 minutes, the heavens unloaded 2.63 inches as intense thunderstorms barreled through the region,” I wrote at the time. “In all, 2.79 inches fell in just over an hour, setting a record for July 17.” That year ended up as D.C.’s wettest on record.
Here are other notables from this day:
- Average high: 90
- Average low: 73
- Record high: 102 (1980)
- Record low: 56 (1929)
- Record rainfall: 2.79 inches (2018)
