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

University Park, Maryland Weather

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

University Park weather forecast — hour by hour, 7-day outlook, NOAA radar

University Park, MD
Saturday, July 4 at 7:10 PM
82
°
Overcast
Feels like
82°
Humidity
60%
Wind
14 mph
Sunrise
1:47 AM
Sunset
4:36 PM
University Park, MD
Hour by hour · 24h
24-Hour ForecastUniversity Park, MD: 24-hour forecast. Temperatures range from 76 to 98 degrees Fahrenheit with a 37% chance of precipitation at 7 PM.
L 76°H 98°
University Park, MD
7-day forecast
  1. Today
    Jul 4
    Drizzle
    37%
    0.02″
    102°79°—
  2. Sunday
    Jul 5
    Heavy Rain
    52%
    1.6″
    98°75°-4°
  3. Monday
    Jul 6
    Light Drizzle
    82%
    —
    85°75°-13°
  4. Tuesday
    Jul 7
    Thunderstorm
    82%
    0.29″
    90°72°+5°
  5. Wednesday
    Jul 8
    Light Rain
    38%
    0.20″
    78°70°-12°
  6. Thursday
    Jul 9
    Overcast
    13%
    —
    93°69°+15°
  7. Friday
    Jul 10
    Drizzle
    42%
    0.06″
    93°73°0°
University Park, MD
Next 24 hours · Warm now
HOT 90°70°88°105°6p12a6a12pnow 82°high 98°low 76°PRECIP %
University Park, MD
Anemometer · 24h winds · from true
NESW
From · True
NNW
335° · veering 73°
Direction
NNW
335°
Sustained
14
mph
Gust
26
mph
Peak 24h
26
avg 4
Beaufort · 4 · MOD 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 26 @ 7:00p
0102030MPHB1B2B3B4B5B6B7-21h-18h-15h-12h-9h-6h-3h-24hNOWpk 280SUSTGUST
−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Sustained 14 mph with gusts pulsing to 26 — flags snap, branches bend.
University Park, MD
Barometer · 24h pressure · mb
STORMRAINCHANGEFAIRDRY9901000101010201030
Pressure · mb
1010.2
+0.9 mb in 3h · rising · 29.83 inHg
Now
1010.2
mb
3h
+0.9
mb
12h
-1.8
mb
24h
-0.8
mb
Regime · CHANGE
STORM
RAIN
CHANGE
FAIR
DRY
24h · Pressure · mb
range 1008–1013
1000STORM|RAIN10051010RAIN|CHG1015CHG|FAIR10201025FAIR|DRY1030-21h-18h-15h-12h-9h-6h-3h-24hNOW1012.61007.71010.2
−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Pressure climbing through the change line — drier air pushing in.
University Park, 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
breezy
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
University Park, MD
Sky cover · visibility · 24h
Cloud cover
100%
OVERCAST
100%0%−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Visibility
62.8mi
UNLIMITED
117 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
23:10 UTC · University Park, 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
23:10 UTC · University Park, MD · NOAA NESDIS / STAR · 5-min cadence · up to 10000 px
University Park, MD
Satellite · infrared · animated
University Park, MD
Loading IR frames…
IR · cloud-top temp© RainViewer · Carto
University Park, 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.
University Park, MD
The moon
Waning Gibbous
78% illuminated
Moonrise
10:59 PM
Moonset
10:12 AM
In sign
♓︎ Pisces
University Park, MD
Microseason
Jul 1–5

Cicadas claim the afternoon

plant
Jan 151% of the yearDec 31

Read this microseason across nine climate regions →

University Park at a glance

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

16-Day Forecast — University Park

  1. Sat102°79°37%
  2. Sun98°75°52%
  3. Mon85°75°82%
  4. Tue90°72°82%
  5. Wed78°70°38%
  6. Thu93°69°13%
  7. Fri93°73°42%
  8. Sat93°70°38%
  9. Sun83°71°22%
  10. Mon82°70°20%
  11. Tue88°67°17%
  12. Wed95°71°33%
  13. Thu95°72°37%
  14. Fri92°76°42%
  15. Sat95°73°44%
  16. Sun91°72°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 — University Park

SPC has placed University Park 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

University Park peaks at about 78°F in July and bottoms near 32°F in January; August brings the heaviest rain (4.2 inches) and October the least (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

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

University Park's precipitation spreads evenly: August peaks at 4.2 inches on 17.8 wet days, while October holds 2.6 inches over 11.1 — no month dominates University Park's rain calendar. That lines University Park up with places like Hyattsville, MD, Riverdale Park, MD and Edmonston, MD, fed by overlapping storm tracks.

Once University Park passes mid-April, overnight freezes fade and peas, lettuce, spinach, and radishes can be sown. Tomatoes and peppers do best set out two weeks later in University Park, once nights clear the mid-40s°F. The season ends by mid-November in University Park, once hard frosts set back in. A creek-bottom lot in University Park can lag University Park's last frost 7-10 days behind a south slope.

Similar climates: Hyattsville, MD, Riverdale Park, MD, Edmonston, MD, College Park, MD, North Brentwood, MD.

Frequently asked

When does it freeze in University Park?
In University Park, expect the last spring frost near mid-April; University Park's first autumn frost comes around mid-November.
What is the rainy season in University Park?
Rainfall in University Park peaks in August near 4.2 inches, out of about 42 inches annually.
What is the warmest month in University Park?
On average July tops the year in University Park at about 78°F.
What is the coldest month in University Park?
The coldest stretch in University Park falls in January, around 32°F on average.
When can I start a vegetable garden in University Park?
Around mid-April, start frost-hardy crops in University Park; tomatoes and basil belong a fortnight later.
How many rainy days does University Park get?
Expect roughly 175 wet days a year in University Park.
What hardiness zone is University Park?
Because University Park bottoms near 32°F in January, that winter low sets University Park's USDA zone — verify by ZIP.
What is the 10-day forecast for University Park?
University Park'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 University Park?
See this week's day-by-day rain chances for University Park in the daily forecast above, and the next 24 hours in the hourly chart.
What is the weather like right now in University Park?
Current conditions for University Park and the next 24 hours — temperature, precipitation chance, and wind by the hour — are in the hourly forecast chart above.
How often is the University Park forecast updated?
The University Park forecast on this page is built from Open-Meteo weather-model data and refreshes regularly through the day.
When are sunrise and sunset in University Park?
Today's sunrise and sunset times for University Park 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 University Park?
The next few days in University Park'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, University Park, Maryland swings from 32°F in the heart of winter to 78°F at midsummer — a 46°F arc.

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

University Park sits at 39.0°N; that 46°F seasonal swing frames planting windows and frost dates across University Park.

All cities in Maryland →

Silver Spring, MD weather →

ZIP codes in University Park

  • 20782

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.