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Forest Heights, Maryland Weather

Cicadas claim the afternoon. Day 15 of summer. Read this microseason across nine climate regions →

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

Forest Heights, MD
Saturday, July 4 at 8:33 PM
82
°
Overcast
Feels like
83°
Humidity
53%
Wind
9 mph
Sunrise
1:48 AM
Sunset
4:36 PM
Forest Heights, MD
Hour by hour · 24h
24-Hour ForecastForest Heights, MD: 24-hour forecast. Temperatures range from 76 to 98 degrees Fahrenheit with a 29% chance of precipitation at 11 PM.
L 76°H 98°
Forest Heights, MD
7-day forecast
  1. Today
    Jul 4
    Light Drizzle
    37%
    —
    103°80°—
  2. Sunday
    Jul 5
    Overcast
    50%
    —
    98°76°-5°
  3. Monday
    Jul 6
    Light Showers
    80%
    —
    86°74°-12°
  4. Tuesday
    Jul 7
    Showers
    80%
    —
    78°71°-8°
  5. Wednesday
    Jul 8
    Light Drizzle
    39%
    0.02″
    79°69°+1°
  6. Thursday
    Jul 9
    Overcast
    12%
    —
    96°68°+17°
  7. Friday
    Jul 10
    Light Drizzle
    41%
    0.02″
    99°75°+3°
Forest Heights, MD
Next 24 hours · Warm now
HOT 90°70°88°105°6p12a6a12pnow 84°high 98°low 76°PRECIP %
Forest Heights, MD
Anemometer · 24h winds · from true
NESW
From · True
SW
215° · backing 7°
Direction
SW
215°
Sustained
9
mph
Gust
19
mph
Peak 24h
23
avg 4
Beaufort · 3 · GENTLE 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 23 @ 7:00p
0102030MPHB1B2B3B4B5B6-21h-18h-15h-12h-9h-6h-3h-24hNOWpk 255SUSTGUST
−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Light breeze backing 7° from the sw.
Forest Heights, MD
Barometer · 24h pressure · mb
STORMRAINCHANGEFAIRDRY9901000101010201030
Pressure · mb
1007.1
+1.9 mb in 3h · rising · 29.74 inHg
Now
1007.1
mb
3h
+1.9
mb
12h
-1.6
mb
24h
-0.3
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-24hNOW1008.61004.01006.8
−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Pressure climbing out of the rain band — clearing edging in.
Forest Heights, MD
Air quality
98
AQI
Moderate
↑+6 in 6h

AQI 98 (Moderate), driven by PM2.5. AQI up 6 over the last 6 hours (gradual rise). PM2.5 at 14.0 µg/m³, PM10 at 14.5 µg/m³ — typical background levels with no transport signature.

OK No precautions needed for the general population; unusually sensitive individuals may consider limiting prolonged outdoor exertion.

PM 2.5DRIVERModerate
14.0μg/m³
PM 10Good
15μg/m³
NO₂Good
13μg/m³
OzoneModerate
98μg/m³
UV IndexLow
0.1

What's driving it

Ozone × UV × Sky

Ozone at AQI 46. Overcast through the UV peak window (cloud cover ~67%) — afternoon ozone should stay flat.

Present
AQI 46
UV peak
0.1 at 1 PM
Sky at peak
overcast
Projected peak
AQI 6

PM × Wind × Precip

PM2.5 at 14.0 µg/m³, PM10 at 14.5 µg/m³ — typical background levels with no transport signature.

PM2.5/PM10
0.97
Wind
light
Recent rain
0h 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 TREND50100SUNMONTUEWEDTHUFRISATSUN7-DAY PM2.5 TREND · μg/m³400
Forest Heights, MD
Sky cover · visibility · 24h
Cloud cover
100%
OVERCAST
100%0%−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Visibility
50.6mi
UNLIMITED
133 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
00:33 UTC · Forest 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
00:33 UTC · Forest Heights, MD · NOAA NESDIS / STAR · 5-min cadence · up to 10000 px
Forest Heights, MD
Satellite · infrared · animated
Forest Heights, MD
Loading IR frames…
IR · cloud-top temp© RainViewer · Carto
Forest 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
5:17 AM
Sunrise
1:48 AM
Daylight
14h 48m
Sunset
4:36 PM
Civil dusk
9:09 PM
Planting note
Harvest early potatoes. Begin drying onions on the surface.
Forest Heights, MD
The moon
Waning Gibbous
77% illuminated
Moonrise
11:24 PM
Moonset
11:18 AM
In sign
♓︎ Pisces
Forest Heights, MD
Microseason
Jul 1–5

Cicadas claim the afternoon

fish
Jan 151% of the yearDec 31

Read this microseason across nine climate regions →

Forest Heights at a glance

  • Today vs. normal: 9°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.

16-Day Forecast — Forest Heights

  1. Sat103°82°37%
  2. Sun98°77°50%
  3. Mon86°74°80%
  4. Tue78°71°80%
  5. Wed79°69°39%
  6. Thu96°68°12%
  7. Fri99°75°41%
  8. Sat85°71°40%
  9. Sun81°70°24%
  10. Mon87°66°19%
  11. Tue92°65°19%
  12. Wed91°68°33%
  13. Thu92°70°37%
  14. Fri92°72°42%
  15. Sat90°72°44%
  16. Sun89°69°46%

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

Right now in the garden

Peak growing season

As of July 5, 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 — Forest Heights

SPC has placed Forest 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 186 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

Forest Heights's warmest month is July (~79°F mean) and its coldest is January (~34°F). Rainfall peaks in August (4.2 inches) and bottoms out in October (2.6 inches).

MonthMean tempPrecipRainy days
January34°3.4″13
February37°2.8″12
March45°3.4″14
April56°3.6″16
May64°3.4″17
June73°3.8″17
July79°3.2″17
August78°4.2″18
September71°3.2″13
October60°2.6″11
November47°3.5″12
December38°3.8″13

Regional context

Drawing on NOAA NCEI 1991-2020 normals, Forest Heights's January averages 34°F and July 79°F — 45°F apart — while precipitation totals roughly 41 inches over some 174 days.

No season owns Forest Heights's rain: August reaches 4.2 inches across 18.0 days and October keeps 2.6 inches on 11.4, an even spread through Forest Heights's year. That even rhythm groups Forest Heights with places like National Harbor, MD, Glassmanor, MD and Oxon Hill, MD.

Forest Heights's growing window opens around mid-April, once Forest Heights's overnight lows stop freezing — sow peas, lettuce, spinach, and radishes. Hold Forest Heights's tender crops — tomatoes, peppers, basil — until 10-14 days past Forest Heights's last frost. It shuts near mid-November, when freezes return to Forest Heights and tender plants need cover. Within Forest Heights, cold-air pooling chills low spots by 5-10°F, shifting Forest Heights's local frost dates.

Similar climates: National Harbor, MD, Glassmanor, MD, Oxon Hill, MD, Temple Hills, MD, Hillcrest Heights, MD.

Frequently asked

When does it freeze in Forest Heights?
Frost typically leaves Forest Heights by mid-April and returns to Forest Heights near mid-November.
What is the rainy season in Forest Heights?
August is the wettest month in Forest Heights, about 4.2 inches on average; the year totals roughly 41 inches.
What is the warmest month in Forest Heights?
The warmest stretch in Forest Heights comes in July, around 79°F on average.
What is the coldest month in Forest Heights?
On average January is the chilliest month in Forest Heights, about 34°F.
When can I start a vegetable garden in Forest Heights?
Forest Heights's last frost (mid-April) cues hardy greens; in Forest Heights, hold heat-lovers two weeks past.
How many rainy days does Forest Heights get?
Forest Heights averages about 174 days with measurable rain or snow each year.
What hardiness zone is Forest Heights?
Forest Heights sits in the USDA zone set by January lows near 34°F; the USDA ZIP tool gives the band.
What is the 10-day forecast for Forest Heights?
Forest 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 Forest Heights?
See this week's day-by-day rain chances for Forest Heights in the daily forecast above, and the next 24 hours in the hourly chart.
What is the weather like right now in Forest Heights?
Current conditions for Forest 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 Forest Heights forecast updated?
The Forest 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 Forest Heights?
Today's sunrise and sunset times for Forest 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 Forest Heights?
The next few days in Forest Heights's forecast are the most reliable; accuracy declines beyond about a week as weather-model uncertainty grows.

Climate

Forest Heights, Maryland occupies a warm-summer humid continental zone, with January means near 34°F and July around 79°F — a 45°F swing.

Yearly precipitation in Forest Heights totals around 41 inches, spread over about 174 days of rain or snow.

Latitude 38.8°N gives Forest Heights its 45°F swing, and with it the rhythm of Forest Heights's growing season.

All cities in Maryland →

Alexandria, VA weather →

ZIP codes in Forest Heights

  • 20745
  • 20750

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.