Washington, D.C. in Summer

In summer (June, July and August), Washington, D.C. sees average daytime highs around 86°F and overnight lows near 68°F, with 11.1 in of rain over about 34 wet days across the season. It is the warmest season of the year and the wettest season of the year.

Over the season highs climb from about 80°F in early June to 84°F by late August. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 27% of the time across summer, and the air most often feels muggy.

Summer is Washington, D.C.'s 3rd-best season to visit on our travel score. For the whole year in context, see Washington, D.C.'s year-round climate.

Avg daytime high: 86°F; warmest season of the year
Avg overnight low: 68°F
Rainfall: 11.1 in; 34 wet days
Avg wind: 5 mph
Travel score: 4.9; 3rd-best season
Months: Jun · Jul · Aug

← Spring Washington, D.C. year-round climate Fall →

Spring Summer Fall Winter

Temperature in Washington, D.C. in Summer

Average highAverage lowShaded bands: 10–90% of days

Over the season highs climb from about 80°F in early June to 84°F by late August.

A typical summer day in Washington, D.C. reaches about 86°F and drops to 68°F overnight. The warmest of the three months is July, the coolest June.

How summer really feels in Washington, D.C.

Once humidity and wind are folded in, summer brings about 16 days that feel above 90°F and 0 that feel at or below 32°F.

Days feeling ≥ 90°F

heat index over the day's high

Days feeling ≤ 32°F

wind chill below the day's low

The story in summer is heat — humidity pushes the afternoon "feels like" well above the raw temperature.

Washington, D.C. weather by month

How the three summer months (June, July and August) compare with the rest of the year — the season's months are highlighted.

Month	High / Low (°F)	Rainfall (inches)	Wet days	Snow days	Daylight (hours)	Travel score
Jan	43° / 28°	3.1	8.6	2.9	9.6	0.4
Feb	46° / 29°	2.9	8.5	2.8	10.5	1.2
Mar	55° / 36°	3.9	10.3	1.9	11.7	3.4
Apr	66° / 47°	3.4	10.1	0.1	13	5.9
May	74° / 56°	3.8	11	0	14.1	6.6
Jun	83° / 65°	3.5	11.3	0	14.7	5.4
Jul	88° / 70°	4.1	12.1	0	14.4	4.3
Aug	85° / 68°	3.5	10.1	0	13.5	5.1
Sep	79° / 61°	4.3	9.3	0	12.3	6.8
Oct	67° / 49°	3.4	7.8	0	11	6.6
Nov	56° / 39°	2.9	7.5	0.2	9.9	4.1
Dec	47° / 32°	3.5	8.8	1.6	9.3	1.5

Cloud cover in Summer

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 27% of the time across summer.

Chance of precipitation in Summer

Any precipitation

Washington, D.C. gets around 11.1 in of rain over 34 wet days across summer. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.

Humidity in Summer

DryComfortableHumidMuggyOppressiveMiserable

Most of summer feels muggy — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.

Wind in Summer

Winds average 5 mph across summer.

Sunrise & sunset in Summer

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 14 h 30 min in early June to 12 h 54 min by late August. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

Solar energy in Summer

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day across summer, about 5.8 kWh/m².

Planning a trip in summer

Hazard calendar for Washington, D.C.

In seasonPeak

In summer, Washington, D.C. overlaps its atlantic hurricane season. The full year is below, with each hazard's peak months called out.

Washington, D.C. sits in the Atlantic hurricane belt; the season peaks August–October.

Atlantic hurricane

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Is summer a good time to visit Washington, D.C.?

Our two travel scores rate summer for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal), averaged across the three months.

4.9

Sightseeing

3rd-best month of the year

6.5

Beach & pool

1st-best month of the year

summer is a reasonable time to visit Washington, D.C. for sightseeing. The water and warmth also suit a beach or pool day.

What to pack for Washington, D.C. in Summer

From summer's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.

In summer, Washington, D.C. sees daytime highs around 86°F and nights near 68°F. Pack light clothes and sun protection. Worth having: rain gear. About 34 days see rain.

light clothessun protectionrain gear

Sea temperature near Washington, D.C. in Summer

The nearest coast averages about 74°F across summer — the other half of the beach question. The full-year curve and swim-comfort zones are below.

The sea at the nearest coast (about 35 mi away) is warmest in August at about 78°F and coldest in February near 37°F.

It's comfortable for a long swim from Jun 16 to Oct 6 — about 3.7 months when the water holds above 68°F.

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Sea temperature (°F)	38	37	40	47	58	68	76	78	74	65	54	45
Comfort	Bracing	Bracing	Bracing	Bracing	Bracing	Refreshing	Warm	Warm	Refreshing	Cool	Bracing	Bracing

	Sea temperature (°F)	Comfort
Jan	38	Bracing
Feb	37	Bracing
Mar	40	Bracing
Apr	47	Bracing
May	58	Bracing
Jun	68	Refreshing
Jul	76	Warm
Aug	78	Warm
Sep	74	Refreshing
Oct	65	Cool
Nov	54	Bracing
Dec	45	Bracing

UV index in Washington, D.C. in Summer

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV across summer averages around 8 (very high — sun protection essential). The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Washington, D.C. peaks around July 11 at about 9 (very high) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 19 at about 2 (low).

The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — in 9 months of the year.

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
UV index (midday)	2	3	5	6	8	9	9	7	6	4	3	2
Level	Moderate	Moderate	High	High	Very high	Very high	Very high	High	High	Moderate	Moderate	Low

	UV index (midday)	Level
Jan	2	Moderate
Feb	3	Moderate
Mar	5	High
Apr	6	High
May	8	Very high
Jun	9	Very high
Jul	9	Very high
Aug	7	High
Sep	6	High
Oct	4	Moderate
Nov	3	Moderate
Dec	2	Low

Air quality in Washington, D.C. in Summer

GoodModeratePoorUnhealthyVery unhealthy

Average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) through the year — so you can see where summer falls, not just the annual average.

Air quality in Washington, D.C. is worst in July — around 17 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 1.9× the cleanest month (November, 9 µg/m³).

Modeled monthly averages (CAMS reanalysis, 2015–2024).

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
PM2.5 (µg/m³)	11	12	13	13	15	16	17	15	12	9	9	10
Level	Good	Moderate	Moderate	Moderate	Moderate	Moderate	Moderate	Moderate	Moderate	Good	Good	Good

	PM2.5 (µg/m³)	Level
Jan	11	Good
Feb	12	Moderate
Mar	13	Moderate
Apr	13	Moderate
May	15	Moderate
Jun	16	Moderate
Jul	17	Moderate
Aug	15	Moderate
Sep	12	Moderate
Oct	9	Good
Nov	9	Good
Dec	10	Good

Location & terrain

Where is Washington, D.C.?

Washington, D.C. sits at 38.9°N, 77.0°W, 23 ft above sea level, in United States. The nearest listed city is Golden Triangle, 0.6 mi away.

Topography around Washington, D.C.

How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 2, 10 and 50 miles of Washington, D.C..

Within 2 miles, the terrain around Washington, D.C. has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 240 ft around an average of 62 ft above sea level; within 10 miles, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 528 ft; within 50 miles, large variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 2,116 ft.

The land around Washington, D.C. is covered by artificial surfaces (61%) within 2 miles, trees (60%) and artificial surfaces (29%) within 10 miles, and trees (59%) within 50 miles.

2 miles

240 ft

artificial surfaces 61%

10 miles

528 ft

trees 60%

50 miles

2,116 ft

trees 59%

treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfaceswater

← Spring Washington, D.C. year-round climate Fall →

Summer weather nearby: Golden Triangle 0.6 mi · Downtown DC 0.6 mi · Dupont Circle 1.2 mi · Mount Vernon Triangle 1.2 mi · Shaw 1.2 mi · Foggy Bottom 1.2 mi · Northwest One 1.2 mi · Southwest Waterfront 1.2 mi

United States travel facts

Power plugs: Type A / B; 120 V · 60 Hz
Prices: ≈ 100% of US; price level, 2025
GDP per capita: $90,027; 2025
Happiness: 6.8 / 10; World Happiness, 2025
Safe drinking water: 98%; of population, 2024
Homicide rate: 5.8; per 100k, 2023
Road deaths: 12.7; per 100k/yr, 2019
Income group: High; World Bank
Religion

Sources: World Bank, US State Department, World Happiness Report, WHO/UNICEF, EF EPI, CIA World Factbook.

Data sources

Temperature, precipitation, cloud, humidity, wind and solar figures are a 1991–2020 climatology for Washington, D.C. (38.8951°, -77.0364°, elevation 23 ft), computed from hourly ERA5 reanalysis — contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information. Sun figures are astronomical calculations, not observations. City data © GeoNames, CC BY 4.0. Map outlines from Natural Earth (public domain); interactive map © Google.