Steamy air is gearing up to punch you in the face.

This humidity!

Today is shaping up to be the most oppressive, face-melting day of the year, with temperatures expected to reach 97 degrees by this afternoon and a heat index that will make the air outside feel like it’s 100 to 105 degrees.

It’s hot this week. Really hot. So hot, in fact, that Davy DCist has already melted while looking at the heat index forecast for the rest of the week.

No, not like that — literally hot.

The National Weather Service has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Watch until 5 p.m. this evening. Some of the intense storm activity that could pop up midday today includes hail up to 1.5 inches in diameter, wind gusts up to 70 mph, and lightning. Capital Weather Gang finds the silver lining: “… the cold front causing the storm threat should clear out all this muggy air. We’ll feel much more comfortable for the weekend, before shower…