Washington, DC weather in July
July in Washington: hot and oppressively humid, with frequent rain. Highs 90°F, lows 72°F, about 11 days with rain. This is the peak of the warm season in Washington.
- Normal high
- 90°F
- Normal low
- 72°F
- Wet days
- 11
- 4.3 in total
- Muggy days
- 21
- dew point 65°F+
How July changes from start to finish
| July 1 | July 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 89°F | 89°F |
| Normal low | 71°F | 72°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 35% | 32% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 5:46 am / 8:37 pm | 6:08 am / 8:20 pm |
| Daylight | 14.8 h | 14.2 h |
Chance of a wet day: average for the first and last 7 days of the month. Times are local clock time (Eastern Time).
A typical July day
- 6 am74°Fdew point 67°F
- 9 am80°Fdew point 67°F
- Noon86°Fdew point 66°F
- 3 pm87°Fdew point 65°F
- 6 pm84°Fdew point 66°F
- 9 pm79°Fdew point 67°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Washington Reagan Airport (3 mi away); average wind 8 mph; clear or few clouds in 46% of daytime hours, mostly cloudy or overcast in 37%.
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F1 of 31
- Hot dayshigh 90°F or more15 of 31
- Muggy daysdaily mean dew point 65°F or more21 of 31
- Wet daysat least 0.01 in of rain or melted snow11 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in7 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below0 of 31
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more0 of 31
Average days per July, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain in July
Normal precipitation is 4.3 in; a dry July brings about 2.9 in and a wet one about 5.6 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 3 days bring half an inch or more, and about 1 an inch or more.
How July varies from year to year
- Warmest July, 1991-20202011: average high 94°F
- Coolest July2000: average high 82°F
- Wettest July2018: 9.7 in
- Driest July1999: 1.0 in
- Highest reading105°F (July 7, 2012)
- Lowest reading58°F (July 3, 2001)
From the station's daily records with NOAA quality flags removed; most recent date shown when a reading repeats.
July compared with June and August
| June | July | August | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 85°F | 90°F | 88°F |
| Normal low | 68°F | 72°F | 71°F |
| Wet days | 11 | 11 | 9 |
| Comfortable days | 4 | 1 | 1 |
| Daylight | 14.8 h | 14.6 h | 13.6 h |
Highs change by +5°F from June and -2°F into August.
Nearby alternatives in July
- Cooler: Frederick, MD41 mi · high 84°F · 10 wet days
How Washington ranks in July
- Normal high152nd warmest of 378 cities
- Wet days244th driest of 378
- Comfortable days195th most of 340
What to pack for Washington in July
- Light, breathable clothing – highs near 90°F and about 21 muggy days
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain on about 11 days
- Sunglasses and sunscreen – about 14.6 hours of daylight and highs near 90°F
Heating and cooling
July has 0 heating degree days and 496 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 9% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How hot is Washington in July?
The normal high is 90°F and the normal low is 72°F. From 1991 to 2020 the hottest July reading was 105°F (July 7, 2012).
Does it rain a lot in Washington in July?
About 11 days in July have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 4.3 in. The wettest July in 1991-2020 was in 2018 (9.7 in); the driest was in 1999 (1.0 in).
Is July a good time to visit Washington?
July ranks 9th of 12 months on our comfort score for Washington (44 out of 100). It has about 1 comfortable day and about 15 days at 90°F or hotter. The best months are April, May and October.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, snowfall, snow depth, frost dates and humidity and wind by hour: Washington Reagan Airport (USW00013743), 3.2 mi S of the city center, 10 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Cloud cover: Camp Springs Andrews AFB (USW00013705), 11 mi ESE of the city center, 282 ft (258 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Ronald Reagan Washington Natl Airport (724050-13743), 3.3 mi S of the city center, 13 ft . Hourly observations, 1991-2020.