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

Hillcrest Heights, Maryland Weather

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

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

Hillcrest Heights, MD
Saturday, July 4 at 5:57 PM
101
°
Clear
Feels like
103°
Humidity
29%
Wind
6 mph
Sunrise
1:48 AM
Sunset
4:36 PM
Hillcrest Heights, MD
Hour by hour · 24h
24-Hour ForecastHillcrest Heights, MD: 24-hour forecast. Temperatures range from 76 to 101 degrees Fahrenheit with a 29% chance of precipitation at 11 PM.
L 76°H 101°
Hillcrest Heights, MD
7-day forecast
  1. Today
    Jul 4
    Light Drizzle
    29%
    —
    103°78°—
  2. Sunday
    Jul 5
    Light Drizzle
    50%
    —
    98°76°-5°
  3. Monday
    Jul 6
    Overcast
    80%
    —
    86°74°-12°
  4. Tuesday
    Jul 7
    Showers
    80%
    0.15″
    87°71°+1°
  5. Wednesday
    Jul 8
    Heavy Showers
    38%
    0.88″
    76°70°-11°
  6. Thursday
    Jul 9
    Partly Cloudy
    12%
    —
    93°68°+17°
  7. Friday
    Jul 10
    Drizzle
    41%
    0.06″
    95°73°+2°
Hillcrest Heights, MD
Next 24 hours · Hot now
HOT 90°70°90°110°6p12a6a12pnow 101°high 101°low 76°PRECIP %
Hillcrest Heights, MD
Anemometer · 24h winds · from true
NESW
From · True
SW
215° · backing 20°
Direction
SW
215°
Sustained
6
mph
Gust
8
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 @ 6:00p
0102030MPHB1B2B3B4B5B6B7-21h-18h-15h-12h-9h-6h-3h-24hNOWpk 326SUSTGUST
−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
A whisper of wind — leaves barely shift on the trees.
Hillcrest Heights, MD
Barometer · 24h pressure · mb
STORMRAINCHANGEFAIRDRY9901000101010201030
Pressure · mb
1002.2
-2.0 mb in 3h · falling · 29.59 inHg
Now
1002.2
mb
3h
-2.0
mb
12h
-2.4
mb
24h
-2.5
mb
Regime · RAIN
STORM
RAIN
CHANGE
FAIR
DRY
24h · Pressure · mb
range 1002–1006
9951000STORM|RAIN10051010RAIN|CHG1015CHG|FAIR10201025FAIR|DRY1030-21h-18h-15h-12h-9h-6h-3h-24hNOW1005.81002.21002.2
−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Pressure giving way — clouds thicken and rain edges closer.
Hillcrest Heights, MD
Air quality
123
AQI
Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups
↑+68 in 6h

AQI 123 (Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups), driven by Ozone. AQI up 68 in the last 6 hours — air quality is degrading. Ozone at AQI 108 — 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
9.2μg/m³
PM 10Good
10μg/m³
NO₂Good
2μg/m³
OzoneDRIVERUnhealthy
143μg/m³
UV IndexModerate
2.4

What's driving it

Ozone × UV × Sky

Ozone at AQI 108 — peak already passed at 1 PM under clear skies. Levels should ease through evening.

Present
AQI 108
UV peak
2.0 at earlier today
Sky at peak
clear
Projected peak
AQI 108

PM × Wind × Precip

PM2.5 at 9.2 µg/m³ (AQI 51) with a 0.90 fine-to-coarse ratio and 6 mph wind — combustion smoke trapped in calm air, not road dust.

PM2.5/PM10
0.90
Wind
light
Recent rain
0h in last 6h
Pattern
stagnant smoke

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
Hillcrest Heights, MD
Sky cover · visibility · 24h
Cloud cover
0%
CLEAR
100%0%−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Visibility
124.2mi
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
21:57 UTC · Hillcrest 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
21:57 UTC · Hillcrest Heights, MD · NOAA NESDIS / STAR · 5-min cadence · up to 10000 px
Hillcrest Heights, MD
Satellite · infrared · animated
Hillcrest Heights, MD
Loading IR frames…
IR · cloud-top temp© RainViewer · Carto
Hillcrest 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.
Hillcrest Heights, MD
The moon
Waning Gibbous
78% illuminated
Moonrise
10:59 PM
Moonset
10:12 AM
In sign
♓︎ Pisces
Hillcrest Heights, MD
Microseason
Jul 1–5

Cicadas claim the afternoon

plant
Jan 151% of the yearDec 31

Read this microseason across nine climate regions →

Hillcrest Heights at a glance

  • Today vs. normal: 28°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 — Hillcrest Heights

  1. Sat103°78°29%
  2. Sun98°76°50%
  3. Mon86°74°80%
  4. Tue87°71°80%
  5. Wed76°70°38%
  6. Thu93°68°12%
  7. Fri95°73°41%
  8. Sat93°69°39%
  9. Sun82°72°23%
  10. Mon81°68°19%
  11. Tue87°65°19%
  12. Wed94°71°33%
  13. Thu93°70°37%
  14. Fri92°74°42%
  15. Sat96°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 — Hillcrest Heights

SPC has placed Hillcrest 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

Hillcrest Heights 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

In Hillcrest Heights, NOAA NCEI 1991-2020 normals put January near 34°F and July near 79°F — a 45°F seasonal arc — with about 41 inches of precipitation over 174 rainy or snowy days.

Rainfall in Hillcrest Heights stays even across the calendar: August tops out at 4.2 inches over 18.0 rainy days, and October still logs 2.6 inches across 11.4 — a narrow range for Hillcrest Heights. That even rhythm groups Hillcrest Heights with places like Marlow Heights, MD, Silver Hill, MD and Glassmanor, MD.

Once Hillcrest Heights passes mid-April, overnight freezes fade and peas, lettuce, spinach, and radishes can be sown. Heat-demanding starts go out a fortnight on in Hillcrest Heights, after the soil warms and cold snaps clear. Frost returns to Hillcrest Heights near mid-November, ending the tender-crop season. Hillcrest Heights's low ground holds frost later into spring than Hillcrest Heights's benches, which run 3-5 days ahead.

Similar climates: Marlow Heights, MD, Silver Hill, MD, Glassmanor, MD, Temple Hills, MD, Suitland, MD.

Frequently asked

When does it freeze in Hillcrest Heights?
Frost typically leaves Hillcrest Heights by mid-April and returns to Hillcrest Heights near mid-November.
What is the rainy season in Hillcrest Heights?
Hillcrest Heights sees its heaviest rain in August (around 4.2 inches), part of roughly 41 inches a year.
What is the warmest month in Hillcrest Heights?
Hillcrest Heights peaks in July, when the mean runs near 79°F.
What is the coldest month in Hillcrest Heights?
January is Hillcrest Heights's coldest month, averaging about 34°F.
When can I start a vegetable garden in Hillcrest Heights?
In Hillcrest Heights, sow peas and hardy greens around mid-April; Hillcrest Heights's tomatoes and peppers wait two weeks more.
How many rainy days does Hillcrest Heights get?
Hillcrest Heights records around 174 days of measurable precipitation annually.
What hardiness zone is Hillcrest Heights?
Because Hillcrest Heights bottoms near 34°F in January, that winter low sets Hillcrest Heights's USDA zone — verify by ZIP.
What is the 10-day forecast for Hillcrest Heights?
Hillcrest 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 Hillcrest Heights?
See this week's day-by-day rain chances for Hillcrest Heights in the daily forecast above, and the next 24 hours in the hourly chart.
What is the weather like right now in Hillcrest Heights?
Current conditions for Hillcrest 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 Hillcrest Heights forecast updated?
The Hillcrest 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 Hillcrest Heights?
Today's sunrise and sunset times for Hillcrest 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 Hillcrest Heights?
The next few days in Hillcrest 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, Hillcrest Heights, Maryland swings from 34°F in the heart of winter to 79°F at midsummer — a 45°F arc.

Rain and snow bring Hillcrest Heights roughly 41 inches a year across approximately 174 measurable-precipitation days.

Hillcrest Heights's 45°F range, set by its 38.8°N position, drives frost timing and what thrives in Hillcrest Heights.

All cities in Maryland →

Washington, DC weather →

ZIP codes in Hillcrest Heights

  • 20748

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.