NoVA, DC Under Code Orange Alert, Triple-Digit Heat Looms

VIRGINIA — Stay inside and crank the air conditioner to high the next couple of days. Temperatures are expected to climb to 100 degrees across Northern Virginia and the Washington, D.C., area, which are also under a Code Orange warning on the Air Quality Index.

A high-pressure system centered over the mid-Mississippi Valley is expected to produce record high temperatures from the Midwest to the East Coast on Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service.

This creates the potential for sweltering heat for Northern Virginia and Washington, D.C. on Tuesday and beyond, according to NWS' forecast.

On Tuesday, the Baltimore-Washington region can expect mostly sunny skies, with a high of 93 and a north wind around 6 mph, the weather services says. The temperature will dip to around 71 in the evening.

Things begin to heat up on Wednesday, when the NWS forecast predicts a high temperature near 100, with a heat index value making it feel like 106 degrees.

"The combination of hot temperatures in the mid to upper 90s to near 100 degrees together with high humidity levels will produce maximum daily heat indices of between 105 and 115 degrees across these regions," according to NWS. The record high temperatures will potentially expand into portions of the Mid-Atlantic for Wednesday.

On Wednesday night, the weather service predicts a chance of showers and thunderstorms for the region, primarily between 8 p.m. and 2 a.m. The wet weather is expected to continue into Thursday, which will cool things down. The thermometer will top out near 88.

In addition to the sweltering heat, residents of the greater Washington, D.C. area, including Northern Virginia, will have to endure unhealthy air quality for the next couple of days.

Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments issued a Code Orange warning for Tuesday due to high levels of pollutants in the atmosphere.

This decision was based on the Air Quality Index, which monitors how clean the air is and issues ratings in several-coded categories. Code Orange means that the air quality is unhealthy for sensitive groups, which includes "people with heart or lung disease, older adults, children and teenagers, minority populations, and outdoor workers.

COG shared the following recommendations on how residents of the National Capital region can weather Tuesday's Code Orange:

• Avoid lawn mowing or use an electric mower.
• Use gas or electric grills instead of charcoal.
• Fill your vehicles' gas tank after sunset.
• Take transit, carpool, or work from home.
• Turn off lights and electronics when not in use and follow tips from your electric utility about how to use less electricity to cool your home

Provided conditions as reported by the API remain the same, COG says that the Code Orange will likely extended into Wednesday. The API is updated with the next day's forecast everyday at 4 p.m.

Fairfax County issued the following alert at 6:36 a.m. on Tuesday.

"Code Orange Air Quality day for the region today. Air pollution concentrations may become unhealthy for children, people suffering from asthma, heart disease or other lung diseases, and the elderly. Avoid strenuous activity and exercising outdoors."

Here is the National Weather Service forecast for the Baltimore-Washington area.

• Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 93. North wind around 6 mph.
• Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 74. South wind around 6 mph.
• Wednesday: Mostly sunny and hot, with a high near 100. Heat index values as high as 106. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming west in the morning.
• Wednesday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly between 8pm and 2am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 73. West wind around 6 mph becoming light and variable. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
• Thursday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 88. North wind around 7 mph becoming east in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 50%.
• Thursday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 68. Chance of precipitation is 50%.
• Friday: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 83.
• Friday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 69.
• Saturday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 89. Chance of precipitation is 50%.
• Saturday Night: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 68. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
• Sunday: A chance of showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 88. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
• Sunday Night: A chance of showers. Partly cloudy, with a low around 65. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
• Labor Day: Mostly sunny, with a high near 84.