The Washington area is under an “excessive heat warning” on Thursday for the first time in 10 years. The National Weather Service issued the warning because it predicts that, for the first time since Aug. 6, 2001, the heat index (or “feels-like” temperature) will rise to 105 to 108 degrees in the shade. The rest of the week doesn’t look any better. Heather Sheffield, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service, said an excessive heat watch will be in place on Friday.
The mayor’s office expects the temperatures to push electricity demand to near-record levels across the region.
Lifelong D.C. resident Winnie Scott, who spoke Tuesday from behind the counter at Chreky salon spa on K Street, said the weather certainly feels hotter than it did last summer. She said she takes the Metro more often than walking as temperatures rise, but even taking the train has its own heat-related disadvantages: Despite air conditioning, she said, the cars feel hotter than usual — and they smell.
“Hot air holds odor. And then the cars are closed in, so that makes it worse,” Scott said.
The city of Alexandria encouraged its residents in an email to “use caution in these extreme temperatures and stay indoors.”
It also suggested that Alexandrians keep cool in local libraries, pools and recreation centers and drink lots of fluids.
Surprisingly, the heat isn’t necessarily good for bottled water vendors. One vendor, Maurice Richardson, yelled “Ice cold water, one dollar! Beautiful woman discounts! Don’t let dehydration ruin your vacation!” from his station across the street from the Archives Metro stop. But he said fewer people buy water from him on extremely hot days.
“When it’s this hot in these areas, a lot of people are inside taking advantage of air conditioning,” he said.
Heura Posada was seeking air-conditioned comfort Wednesday. She and traveling companion Joan Rafols, tourists from Barcelona, Spain, stood at the intersection of Seventh Street and Constitution Avenue NW and said the temperatures forced them to flee for air conditioning and pine for their hometown.
“It’s boiling,” Posada said.
