Weather StoryAlmanac, microseasons, and the day's weather story.

Fort Washington, Maryland Weather

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

Fort Washington weather forecast — hour by hour, 7-day outlook, NOAA radar

Fort Washington, MD
Saturday, July 4 at 6:03 PM
101
°
Clear
Feels like
103°
Humidity
30%
Wind
7 mph
Sunrise
1:48 AM
Sunset
4:36 PM
Fort Washington, MD
Hour by hour · 24h
24-Hour ForecastFort Washington, MD: 24-hour forecast. Temperatures range from 76 to 101 degrees Fahrenheit with a 26% chance of precipitation at 11 PM.
L 76°H 101°
Fort Washington, MD
7-day forecast
  1. Today
    Jul 4
    Light Drizzle
    26%
    0.02″
    102°78°—
  2. Sunday
    Jul 5
    Heavy Rain
    48%
    2.0″
    99°76°-3°
  3. Monday
    Jul 6
    Drizzle
    81%
    0.02″
    88°73°-11°
  4. Tuesday
    Jul 7
    Light Showers
    81%
    0.05″
    87°68°-1°
  5. Wednesday
    Jul 8
    Heavy Showers
    40%
    1.5″
    77°69°-10°
  6. Thursday
    Jul 9
    Overcast
    12%
    —
    94°67°+17°
  7. Friday
    Jul 10
    Light Drizzle
    40%
    0.02″
    97°71°+3°
Fort Washington, MD
Next 24 hours · Hot now
HOT 90°70°90°110°6p12a6a12pnow 101°high 101°low 76°PRECIP %
Fort Washington, MD
Anemometer · 24h winds · from true
NESW
From · True
W
263° · veering 32°
Direction
W
263°
Sustained
7
mph
Gust
12
mph
Peak 24h
12
avg 4
Beaufort · 2 · LIGHT 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 12 @ 9:00p
010203040MPHB1B2B3B4B5B6B7B8-21h-18h-15h-12h-9h-6h-3h-24hNOWpk 406SUSTGUST
−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Light breeze veering 32° from the w.
Fort Washington, MD
Barometer · 24h pressure · mb
STORMRAINCHANGEFAIRDRY9901000101010201030
Pressure · mb
1009.1
-1.2 mb in 3h · falling · 29.80 inHg
Now
1009.1
mb
3h
-1.2
mb
12h
-2.5
mb
24h
-1.9
mb
Regime · RAIN
STORM
RAIN
CHANGE
FAIR
DRY
24h · Pressure · mb
range 1009–1013
9951000STORM|RAIN10051010RAIN|CHG1015CHG|FAIR10201025FAIR|DRY1030-21h-18h-15h-12h-9h-6h-3h-24hNOW1012.81009.01009.1
−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Pressure giving way — clouds thicken and rain edges closer.
Fort Washington, MD
Air quality
113
AQI
Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups
↑+57 in 6h

AQI 113 (Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups), driven by Ozone. AQI up 57 in the last 6 hours — air quality is degrading. Ozone at AQI 78 — peak already passed at 1 PM under clear skies. Levels should ease through evening.

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

PM 2.5Good
8.7μg/m³
PM 10Good
10μg/m³
NO₂Good
2μg/m³
OzoneDRIVERUnhealthy SG
124μg/m³
UV IndexLow
1.2

What's driving it

Ozone × UV × Sky

Ozone at AQI 78 — peak already passed at 1 PM under clear skies. Levels should ease through evening.

Present
AQI 78
UV peak
1.0 at earlier today
Sky at peak
clear
Projected peak
AQI 78

PM × Wind × Precip

PM2.5 at 8.7 µg/m³, PM10 at 9.7 µg/m³ — typical background levels with no transport signature.

PM2.5/PM10
0.90
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 TREND50100SATSUNMONTUEWEDTHUFRISAT7-DAY PM2.5 TREND · μg/m³400
Fort Washington, MD
Sky cover · visibility · 24h
Cloud cover
0%
CLEAR
100%0%−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Visibility
128.6mi
UNLIMITED
130 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
22:03 UTC · Fort Washington, 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
22:03 UTC · Fort Washington, MD · NOAA NESDIS / STAR · 5-min cadence · up to 10000 px
Fort Washington, MD
Satellite · infrared · animated
Fort Washington, MD
Loading IR frames…
IR · cloud-top temp© RainViewer · Carto
Fort Washington, 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.
Fort Washington, MD
The moon
Waning Gibbous
78% illuminated
Moonrise
10:59 PM
Moonset
10:13 AM
In sign
♓︎ Pisces
Fort Washington, MD
Microseason
Jul 1–5

Cicadas claim the afternoon

plant
Jan 151% of the yearDec 31

Read this microseason across nine climate regions →

Fort Washington at a glance

  • Today vs. normal: 28°F above the seasonal normal for this latitude
  • Last frost: April 8 (climatological average for this latitude)
  • Microseason: Jul 1–5
  • Planting window: Harvest early potatoes. Begin drying onions on the surface.

ZIP code: 20744

16-Day Forecast — Fort Washington

  1. Sat102°78°26%
  2. Sun99°76°48%
  3. Mon88°73°81%
  4. Tue87°68°81%
  5. Wed77°69°40%
  6. Thu94°67°12%
  7. Fri97°71°40%
  8. Sat95°68°40%
  9. Sun83°67°26%
  10. Mon81°67°20%
  11. Tue88°63°19%
  12. Wed94°68°41%
  13. Thu93°68°43%
  14. Fri92°71°43%
  15. Sat97°69°39%
  16. Sun90°69°37%

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 — Fort Washington

SPC has placed Fort Washington 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

Fort Washington peaks at about 79°F in July and bottoms near 34°F in January; August brings the heaviest rain (4.2 inches) and October the least (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

Fort Washington's climate, from NOAA NCEI 1991-2020 station normals, pairs 34°F Januarys with 79°F Julys — a 45°F swing. About 41 inches of precipitation falls over roughly 174 days a year.

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

The cool-season window in Fort Washington starts at mid-April, when nights stop freezing — think peas, lettuce, spinach, and radishes. Warm-soil crops in Fort Washington wait about two weeks past Fort Washington's last frost, once the soil warms. It shuts near mid-November, when freezes return to Fort Washington and tender plants need cover. In Fort Washington, low spots run 4-7°F colder than nearby slopes, nudging Fort Washington's frost dates a week.

Similar climates: Friendly, MD, National Harbor, MD, Accokeek, MD, Oxon Hill, MD, Forest Heights, MD.

Frequently asked

When does it freeze in Fort Washington?
In Fort Washington, expect the last spring frost near mid-April; Fort Washington's first autumn frost comes around mid-November.
What is the rainy season in Fort Washington?
Rainfall in Fort Washington peaks in August near 4.2 inches, out of about 41 inches annually.
What is the warmest month in Fort Washington?
July is Fort Washington's warmest month, averaging about 79°F.
What is the coldest month in Fort Washington?
Fort Washington bottoms out in January, with a mean near 34°F.
When can I start a vegetable garden in Fort Washington?
Time tomatoes in Fort Washington for two weeks after mid-April; peas and greens start at Fort Washington's frost line.
How many rainy days does Fort Washington get?
Fort Washington records around 174 days of measurable precipitation annually.
What hardiness zone is Fort Washington?
Fort Washington's hardiness zone tracks its winter low; with January near 34°F, check the USDA ZIP map for the exact zone.
What is the 10-day forecast for Fort Washington?
Fort Washington'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 Fort Washington?
See this week's day-by-day rain chances for Fort Washington in the daily forecast above, and the next 24 hours in the hourly chart.
What is the weather like right now in Fort Washington?
Current conditions for Fort Washington and the next 24 hours — temperature, precipitation chance, and wind by the hour — are in the hourly forecast chart above.
How often is the Fort Washington forecast updated?
The Fort Washington forecast on this page is built from Open-Meteo weather-model data and refreshes regularly through the day.
When are sunrise and sunset in Fort Washington?
Today's sunrise and sunset times for Fort Washington 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 Fort Washington?
The next few days in Fort Washington's forecast are the most reliable; accuracy declines beyond about a week as weather-model uncertainty grows.

Climate

Fort Washington, Maryland has a warm-summer humid continental climate: January averages roughly 34°F, July about 79°F, 45°F between them.

Fort Washington sees close to 41 inches of precipitation annually, falling across some 174 wet days.

Latitude 38.7°N gives Fort Washington its 45°F swing, and with it the rhythm of Fort Washington's growing season.

All cities in Maryland →

Alexandria, VA weather →

ZIP codes in Fort Washington

  • 20744
  • 20749

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.