D.C. has yet to activate its emergency heat plan ahead of potentially record-breaking temperatures this weekend.

Jarosław Kwoczała / Unsplash

D.C. has activated its emergency heat plan through the weekend, ahead of a heat wave that’s expected to bring record-breaking temperatures to the D.C. region.

Temperatures are expected to climb into the mid-90s this weekend, possibly marking the hottest May weather recorded in the D.C. region in at least a decade. The D.C. Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency automatically declares a heat emergency in the city whenever the National Weather Service forecasts a local temperature above 95 degrees.

The city will open cooling centers at select recreation centers, public schools, and homeless shelters for residents seeking relief from the heat. To receive a transportation to a cooling center, residents can call 202-399-7093, and consult the city’s interactive cooling center map. The Downtown Day Center will be open for walk-ins on Friday until 5:00 p.m., and on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Bowser is also opening select spray parks across the city at 10 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday. They’ll close on Monday, before opening again for the season on May 28.

Ward 1
Harrison Recreation Center, 1330 V St, NW
Park at LeDroit, 319 Oakdale Pl, NW
Westminster Playground, 911 Westminster St, NW

Ward 2
Kennedy Recreation Center, 1401 7th Street, NW

Ward 3
Chevy Chase Recreation Center, 5500 41st St, NW
Friendship Recreation Center, 4500 Van Ness St, NW
Macomb Recreation Center, 3409 Macomb St, NW

Ward 4
Riggs-LaSalle Recreation Center, 501 Riggs Rd, NE
Takoma Community Center, 300 Van Buren St, NW

Ward 5
Edgewood Recreation Center, 301 Franklin St, NE
Turkey Thicket Recreation Center, 1100 Michigan Ave, NE

Ward 6
Eastern Market Metro Park, 701 Pennsylvania Ave, SE
Potomac Avenue Triangle Park, 1216 Potomac Ave, SE
Watkins Spray Park, 420 12th St, SE

Ward 7
Fort Davis Spray Park, 1400 41st St, SE
Marvin Gaye Park at Division Ave, Division & Foote St, NE

Ward 8
Fort Greble Recreation Center, Martin Luther King Jr. Ave and Elmira St. SW

Models predict that highs will fall somewhere between 94 and 98 degrees on Saturday, according to Capital Weather Gang, 20 degrees above the average for May. If the region hits 96, it will be hottest day this early in May since 1997. One degree higher, and we’d have the hottest day ever recorded this early.

Sunday won’t provide much relief, either — highs range between 91 to 96. Residents will have to wait for a reprieve from the heat until Monday, when a cold front will knock temperatures down into the 70s.

The heatwave comes after a relatively mild April and May for the area. Typically D.C. would have recorded at least one 90 degree day by May 16, so this year’s heat-wave is a bit behind schedule.

Meanwhile, 10 Maryland counties, including Howard and Frederick,  are under a tornado advisory this afternoon until 7:10 p.m. According to the National Weather Service, thunderstorms on Friday will bring in damaging winds, hail, and isolated tornadoes.

Filed Under: heat advisory,