On this day in 1991, the calendar soared to a calendar-day record high of 96 after a record warm morning low of 75. It was the second straight record hot day, after it also hit 96 on Sept. 16.
Factoring in high humidity, heat indexes eclipsed 105. And the day ended with thundershowers.
“On a day as hot and wet as a Saint Bernard’s breath, the Washington area yesterday sweated through record September temperatures that shut many schools early, canceled sports events, broke electricity-use records and sent beer sales soaring,” the front page of The Washington Post reported on Sept. 18.
And on this day in 2004, the largest tornado outbreak in Virginia history occurred, when the remnants of Hurricane Ivan swept through the Mid-Atlantic. Virginia observed 38 tornadoes while six also hit Maryland along with several more in West Virginia and Pennsylvania.
Read these stories on the outbreak:
- Hurricane Ivan, Virginia’s largest tornado outbreak — Sept. 17, 2004
- Tornadoes Pound Washington Region
Here are other notables from this date:
- Average high: 80
- Average low: 64
- Record high: 96 (1991)
- Record low: 44 (1923)
- Record rainfall: 3.26 inches (1876)
