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Capitol Heights, Maryland Weather

Cicadas claim the afternoon. Day 14 of summer. Read this microseason across nine climate regions →

Capitol Heights weather forecast — hour by hour, 7-day outlook, NOAA radar

Capitol Heights, MD
Saturday, July 4 at 7:16 PM
83
°
Heavy Rain
Feels like
80°
Humidity
59%
Wind
20 mph
Sunrise
1:47 AM
Sunset
4:36 PM
Capitol Heights, MD
Hour by hour · 24h
24-Hour ForecastCapitol Heights, MD: 24-hour forecast. Temperatures range from 75 to 98 degrees Fahrenheit with a 32% chance of precipitation at 7 PM.
L 75°H 98°
Capitol Heights, MD
7-day forecast
  1. Today
    Jul 4
    Rain
    32%
    0.17″
    103°78°—
  2. Sunday
    Jul 5
    Heavy Drizzle
    49%
    0.07″
    98°75°-5°
  3. Monday
    Jul 6
    Drizzle
    82%
    0.03″
    86°74°-12°
  4. Tuesday
    Jul 7
    Light Showers
    82%
    0.10″
    87°70°+1°
  5. Wednesday
    Jul 8
    Heavy Showers
    37%
    1.2″
    77°70°-10°
  6. Thursday
    Jul 9
    Partly Cloudy
    12%
    —
    93°67°+16°
  7. Friday
    Jul 10
    Light Drizzle
    41%
    0.04″
    95°72°+2°
Capitol Heights, MD
Next 24 hours · Warm now
HOT 90°70°88°105°6p12a6a12pnow 87°high 98°low 75°PRECIP %
Capitol Heights, MD
Anemometer · 24h winds · from true
NESW
From · True
SW
218° · backing 17°
Direction
SW
218°
Sustained
20
mph
Gust
33
mph
Peak 24h
33
avg 4
Beaufort · 5 · FRESH BRZ
0
CALM
<1
1
LIGHT AIR
1–3
2
LIGHT BRZ
4–7
3
GENTLE BRZ
8–12
4
MOD BRZ
13–18
5
FRESH BRZ
19–24
6
STRONG BRZ
25–31
7
NEAR GALE
32–38
24h · sust vs gust · mph
avg 4 · pk 33
010203040MPHB1B2B3B4B5B6B7B8-21h-18h-15h-12h-9h-6h-3h-24hNOWpk 374SUSTGUST
−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Sustained 20 mph with gusts pulsing to 33 — flags snap, branches bend.
Capitol Heights, MD
Barometer · 24h pressure · mb
STORMRAINCHANGEFAIRDRY9901000101010201030
Pressure · mb
1006.6
+1.2 mb in 3h · rising · 29.72 inHg
Now
1006.6
mb
3h
+1.2
mb
12h
-1.3
mb
24h
-0.5
mb
Regime · RAIN
STORM
RAIN
CHANGE
FAIR
DRY
24h · Pressure · mb
range 1004–1009
1000STORM|RAIN10051010RAIN|CHG1015CHG|FAIR-21h-18h-15h-12h-9h-6h-3h-24hNOW1008.81004.11006.8
−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Pressure climbing out of the rain band — clearing edging in.
Capitol Heights, MD
Air quality
130
AQI
Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups
↑+76 in 6h

AQI 130 (Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups), driven by Ozone. AQI up 76 in the last 6 hours — air quality is degrading. Ozone at AQI 76. Overcast through the UV peak window (cloud cover ~100%) — afternoon ozone should stay flat.

CAUTION Sensitive groups (children, elderly, respiratory conditions) should limit prolonged outdoor exertion.

PM 2.5Good
11.2μg/m³
PM 10Good
12μg/m³
NO₂Good
7μg/m³
OzoneDRIVERUnhealthy SG
123μg/m³
UV IndexLow
0.3

What's driving it

Ozone × UV × Sky

Ozone at AQI 76. Overcast through the UV peak window (cloud cover ~100%) — afternoon ozone should stay flat.

Present
AQI 76
UV peak
0.2 at 1 PM
Sky at peak
overcast
Projected peak
AQI 9

PM × Wind × Precip

PM2.5 at 11.2 µg/m³, PM10 at 11.9 µg/m³ — typical background levels with no transport signature.

PM2.5/PM10
0.94
Wind
windy
Recent rain
1h in last 6h
Pattern
background

Trends

Seven days of AQI and PM2.5.

Hourly air-quality data from the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service, charted across the past and next several days. Dashed lines mark the AQI breakpoints at 50 (Good → Moderate) and 100 (Moderate → Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups).

7-DAY AQI TREND50100SATSUNMONTUEWEDTHUFRISAT7-DAY PM2.5 TREND · μg/m³330
Capitol Heights, MD
Sky cover · visibility · 24h
Cloud cover
100%
OVERCAST
100%0%−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Visibility
3.1mi
MODERATE
125 mi0 mi−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Earth · GOES-19 ABI
Full Disk · Visible · GeoColor
GOES-19 full disk Visible · GeoColor
True-color daytime, blue/IR sandwich at night
23:16 UTC · Capitol Heights, MD · NOAA NESDIS / STAR · up to 10848 px
Continental US · GOES-19 ABI
CONUS Sector · Visible · GeoColor
GOES-19 CONUS Visible · GeoColor
Daytime true-color, blue-light/IR sandwich at night
23:16 UTC · Capitol Heights, MD · NOAA NESDIS / STAR · 5-min cadence · up to 10000 px
Capitol Heights, MD
Satellite · infrared · animated
Capitol Heights, MD
Loading IR frames…
IR · cloud-top temp© RainViewer · Carto
Capitol Heights, MD
Almanac · Saturday, July 4
If the first of July be rainy weather, 'twill rain more or less for four weeks together.
Civil dawn
5:16 AM
Sunrise
1:47 AM
Daylight
14h 49m
Sunset
4:36 PM
Civil dusk
9:09 PM
Planting note
Harvest early potatoes. Begin drying onions on the surface.
Capitol Heights, MD
The moon
Waning Gibbous
78% illuminated
Moonrise
10:59 PM
Moonset
10:12 AM
In sign
♓︎ Pisces
Capitol Heights, MD
Microseason
Jul 1–5

Cicadas claim the afternoon

plant
Jan 151% of the yearDec 31

Read this microseason across nine climate regions →

Capitol Heights at a glance

  • Today vs. normal: 10°F above the seasonal normal for this latitude
  • Last frost: April 9 (climatological average for this latitude)
  • Microseason: Jul 1–5
  • Planting window: Harvest early potatoes. Begin drying onions on the surface.

ZIP code: 20743

16-Day Forecast — Capitol Heights

  1. Sat103°78°32%
  2. Sun98°75°49%
  3. Mon86°74°82%
  4. Tue87°70°82%
  5. Wed77°70°37%
  6. Thu93°67°12%
  7. Fri95°72°41%
  8. Sat94°69°39%
  9. Sun82°71°22%
  10. Mon80°67°19%
  11. Tue87°64°18%
  12. Wed94°70°33%
  13. Thu93°69°37%
  14. Fri93°73°42%
  15. Sat95°70°44%
  16. Sun91°70°46%

Forecast data from Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0).

Right now in the garden

Peak growing season

As of July 4, the growing season is at its peak — frost is months away. Continue succession-planting beans and summer squash. Start fall brassicas (broccoli, cabbage, kale) from seed indoors for transplanting in late summer.

SPC Convective Outlook

Storm Prediction Center — Capitol Heights

SPC has placed Capitol Heights in the Enhanced Risk category for severe thunderstorms today.

  • TODAYENHEnhanced Risk
  • TOMORROWSLGTSlight Risk
  • DAY 3TSTMGeneral Thunderstorms

Numerous severe storms likely. Tornadoes, large hail, and damaging wind gusts possible across the area. Track NWS warnings if storms develop.

Source: NOAA / NWS Storm Prediction Center categorical convective outlook. Outlooks are re-issued multiple times per day; this page reflects the most recent SPC polygons covering the city’s coordinates.

January 1–5: The year turns in silence.January 6–10: Ice thickens on still water.January 11–15: Shortest shadows lengthen.January 16–20: Pheasants begin to call.January 21–25: Springs begin to thaw.January 26–31: Chickadees announce dawn.February 1–5: East wind softens the frost.February 6–10: Sap begins to rise.February 11–15: First snowdrops appear.February 16–20: Red-winged blackbirds return.February 21–25: Rain begins to replace snow.February 26–28: Skunk cabbage pushes through ice.March 1–5: Ice withdraws from the reservoir.March 6–10: Crocuses open to weak sun.March 11–15: Peepers call from the marsh.March 16–20: Woodcocks spiral at dusk.March 21–25: Equinox — light overtakes dark.March 26–31: Forsythia opens along the fences.April 1–5: Cherry blossoms drift like snow.April 6–10: Warblers appear in the understory.April 11–15: Magnolias bloom and fall in a day.April 16–20: Dogwoods float above the forest.April 21–25: Lilacs perfume the evening.April 26–30: Last frost releases the garden.May 1–5: Warblers flood the Ramble.May 6–10: Tulip poplars light their candles.May 11–15: Shad run up the rivers.May 16–20: Roses open along the stoops.May 21–25: Firefly scouts appear at dusk.May 26–31: Strawberries ripen in the sun.June 1–5: Fireflies rise from the lawn.June 6–10: Elderflowers open in hedgerows.June 11–15: Solstice approaches — longest light.June 16–20: Honeysuckle sweetens the night.June 21–25: Solstice — the sun stands still.June 26–30: Lightning bugs drift through oaks.July 1–5: Cicadas claim the afternoon.July 6–10: Queen Anne's lace lines the roads.July 11–15: Thunder builds each afternoon.July 16–20: Corn reaches for the tassels.July 21–25: Dog days settle in the haze.July 26–31: Katydids begin their chorus.August 1–5: Night falls a minute earlier.August 6–10: Sunflowers face the morning.August 11–15: Goldenrod begins to bloom.August 16–20: Crickets pulse through warm nights.August 21–25: First cool morning surprises.August 26–31: Monarchs stage for flight.September 1–5: School buses reappear.September 6–10: Asters purple the roadsides.September 11–15: Hawk migration over the Hudson.September 16–20: Equinox — dark overtakes light.September 21–25: Apples hang heavy on the branch.September 26–30: Geese begin to chevron south.October 1–5: Witch hazel blooms as others fade.October 6–10: Maples begin to blaze.October 11–15: Frost paints the garden black.October 16–20: Oaks turn bronze and russet.October 21–25: Leaves rattle down the gutters.October 26–31: Clocks fall back — dusk at five.November 1–5: Ginkgos drop overnight.November 6–10: Last leaves cling stubbornly.November 11–15: Juncos arrive from the north.November 16–20: Bare branches reveal the sky.November 21–25: First flurries dust the rooftops.November 26–30: Woodsmoke curls through the block.December 1–5: Darkness settles before dinner.December 6–10: Holly and winterberry persist.December 11–15: Shortest day approaches.December 16–20: Ice begins to form at the edges.December 21–25: Solstice — the sun begins return.December 26–31: The year turns in silence.🌱February 14 — First skunk-cabbage spathes thaw their way up☀️March 20 — Spring equinox — day and night balance🌸April 5 — Cherry blossoms peak in the parks🐦May 10 — Warbler migration peaks along the coast✨May 25 — First fireflies scout the meadows at dusk🌞June 21 — Summer solstice — longest day🦗July 25 — Peak cicada chorus in the afternoons🌊August 18 — Warmest sea-surface temperatures of the year🍂September 22 — Autumn equinox — the slow turn❄️October 25 — First widespread frost in the suburbs🍁November 10 — Peak leaf color across the Hudson Valley🌙December 21 — Winter solstice — longest night

Microseason · July 1–5

Cicadas claim the afternoon

Annual cicada buzz begins, peaking in the heat of the day.

Day 185 of 365 · Wedge 37 of 72

The solar year drawn as a wheel of 72 five-day windows. Each wedge is one microseason; the four colored arcs mark winter, spring, summer, and autumn; the small icons sit at notable phenological events. The crimson pointer creeps clockwise as the year turns.

Planting calendar

MonthPlantHarvest
January——
February——
March——
Aprillettuce, peas, spinach, radishes—
Maylettuce, peas, spinach, radishes, tomatoes, peppers, beans, squashlettuce, peas, radishes
Junetomatoes, peppers, beans, squashlettuce, peas, radishes
Julytomatoes, peppers, beans, squashtomatoes, beans, summer squash
August—tomatoes, beans, summer squash
Septemberfall brassicas, garlic (overwinter), carrotstomatoes, beans, summer squash
Octoberfall brassicas, garlic (overwinter), carrotswinter squash, tomatoes (last)
November——
December——

A year in weather

The year in Capitol Heights tops out in July (~78°F) and dips lowest in January (~32°F), with August wettest at 4.2 inches and October driest at 2.6 inches.

MonthMean tempPrecipRainy days
January32°3.3″13
February35°2.8″12
March44°3.4″15
April55°3.7″17
May63°3.5″18
June72°3.9″17
July78°3.2″17
August77°4.2″18
September70°3.4″14
October59°2.6″11
November46°3.6″12
December37°3.9″14

Regional context

Capitol Heights swings from 32°F in January to 78°F in July (46°F) per NOAA NCEI 1991-2020 normals; precipitation in Capitol Heights runs about 41.5 inches on roughly 175 measurable days.

Rainfall in Capitol Heights stays even across the calendar: August tops out at 4.2 inches over 17.8 rainy days, and October still logs 2.6 inches across 11.1 — a narrow range for Capitol Heights. That lines Capitol Heights up with places like Coral Hills, MD, Maryland Park, MD and Walker Mill, MD, fed by overlapping storm tracks.

Around mid-April, Capitol Heights sheds its freezing nights — peas, lettuce, spinach, and radishes go into Capitol Heights's beds. Tomatoes and peppers do best set out two weeks later in Capitol Heights, once nights clear the mid-40s°F. The season ends by mid-November in Capitol Heights, once hard frosts set back in. Capitol Heights's low ground holds frost later into spring than Capitol Heights's benches, which run 3-5 days ahead.

Similar climates: Coral Hills, MD, Maryland Park, MD, Walker Mill, MD, Seat Pleasant, MD, District Heights, MD.

Frequently asked

When does it freeze in Capitol Heights?
In Capitol Heights, expect the last spring frost near mid-April; Capitol Heights's first autumn frost comes around mid-November.
What is the rainy season in Capitol Heights?
August is the wettest month in Capitol Heights, about 4.2 inches on average; the year totals roughly 42 inches.
What is the warmest month in Capitol Heights?
Capitol Heights peaks in July, when the mean runs near 78°F.
What is the coldest month in Capitol Heights?
January is Capitol Heights's coldest month, averaging about 32°F.
When can I start a vegetable garden in Capitol Heights?
Hardy spring crops go in near mid-April in Capitol Heights; tender peppers and squash wait 10–14 days.
How many rainy days does Capitol Heights get?
Expect roughly 175 wet days a year in Capitol Heights.
What hardiness zone is Capitol Heights?
Since January in Capitol Heights averages 32°F, Capitol Heights's USDA zone follows that floor — confirm it by ZIP.
What is the 10-day forecast for Capitol Heights?
Capitol Heights's extended outlook — daily high and low temperatures and precipitation chances for each upcoming day — is in the daily forecast above.
Will it rain this week in Capitol Heights?
See this week's day-by-day rain chances for Capitol Heights in the daily forecast above, and the next 24 hours in the hourly chart.
What is the weather like right now in Capitol Heights?
Current conditions for Capitol Heights and the next 24 hours — temperature, precipitation chance, and wind by the hour — are in the hourly forecast chart above.
How often is the Capitol Heights forecast updated?
The Capitol Heights forecast on this page is built from Open-Meteo weather-model data and refreshes regularly through the day.
When are sunrise and sunset in Capitol Heights?
Today's sunrise and sunset times for Capitol Heights are in the Almanac section above, along with civil dawn, civil dusk, and day length. Day length is longest near the summer solstice and shortest near the winter solstice.
How accurate is the weather forecast for Capitol Heights?
The next few days in Capitol Heights's forecast are the most reliable; accuracy declines beyond about a week as weather-model uncertainty grows.

Climate

Set in a warm-summer humid continental zone, Capitol Heights, Maryland swings from 32°F in the heart of winter to 78°F at midsummer — a 46°F arc.

Yearly precipitation in Capitol Heights totals around 42 inches, spread over about 175 days of rain or snow.

Capitol Heights's 46°F range, set by its 38.9°N position, drives frost timing and what thrives in Capitol Heights.

All cities in Maryland →

Washington, DC weather →

ZIP codes in Capitol Heights

  • 20743
  • 20731

Climate normals from the Open-Meteo Climate API. Köppen approximation from NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Regions. See methodology for data sources, editorial rules, and corrections. Maintainer: Brian Tighe.