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

Wheaton, Maryland Weather

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

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

Wheaton, MD
Saturday, July 4 at 4:39 PM
100
°
Clear
Feels like
105°
Humidity
34%
Wind
6 mph
Sunrise
1:47 AM
Sunset
4:37 PM
Wheaton, MD
Hour by hour · 24h
24-Hour ForecastWheaton, MD: 24-hour forecast. Temperatures range from 74 to 100 degrees Fahrenheit with a 21% chance of precipitation at 12 AM.
L 74°H 100°
Wheaton, MD
7-day forecast
  1. Today
    Jul 4
    Heavy Rain
    20%
    0.69″
    100°76°—
  2. Sunday
    Jul 5
    Heavy Showers
    47%
    1.8″
    95°74°-5°
  3. Monday
    Jul 6
    Drizzle
    79%
    0.03″
    84°72°-11°
  4. Tuesday
    Jul 7
    Thunderstorm
    75%
    0.99″
    90°68°+6°
  5. Wednesday
    Jul 8
    Light Showers
    20%
    0.14″
    76°69°-14°
  6. Thursday
    Jul 9
    Overcast
    26%
    —
    91°66°+15°
  7. Friday
    Jul 10
    Light Drizzle
    43%
    0.04″
    90°71°-1°
Wheaton, MD
Next 24 hours · Hot now
HOT 90°65°85°105°12p6p12a6anow 100°high 100°low 74°PRECIP %
Wheaton, MD
Anemometer · 24h winds · from true
NESW
From · True
WSW
244° · steady
Direction
WSW
244°
Sustained
6
mph
Gust
14
mph
Peak 24h
16
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 16 @ 4:00p
0102030MPHB1B2B3B4B5B6B7-21h-18h-15h-12h-9h-6h-3h-24hNOWpk 281SUSTGUST
−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Light breeze holding from the wsw.
Wheaton, MD
Barometer · 24h pressure · mb
STORMRAINCHANGEFAIRDRY9901000101010201030
Pressure · mb
998.1
-2.5 mb in 3h · falling rapidly · 29.47 inHg
Now
998.1
mb
3h
-2.5
mb
12h
-2.0
mb
24h
-2.8
mb
Regime · STORM
STORM
RAIN
CHANGE
FAIR
DRY
24h · Pressure · mb
range 998–1002
9909951000STORM|RAIN10051010RAIN|CHG1015CHG|FAIR10201025FAIR|DRY1030-21h-18h-15h-12h-9h-6h-3h-24hNOW1001.6998.5998.5
−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Deep low still deepening — rough seas, strong wind, persistent rain.
Wheaton, MD
Air quality
81
AQI
Moderate
↑+28 in 6h▲Peak ~92 @ 10 PM

AQI 81 (Moderate), driven by Ozone. AQI up 28 in the last 6 hours — air quality is degrading. Ozone at AQI 86 — peak already passed at 1 PM under clear skies. Levels should ease through evening.

OK No precautions needed for the general population; unusually sensitive individuals may consider limiting prolonged outdoor exertion during the projected peak around 10 PM.

PM 2.5Good
8.5μg/m³
PM 10Good
10μg/m³
NO₂Good
1μg/m³
OzoneDRIVERUnhealthy SG
129μg/m³
UV IndexModerate
4.5

What's driving it

Ozone × UV × Sky

Ozone at AQI 86 — peak already passed at 1 PM under clear skies. Levels should ease through evening.

Present
AQI 86
UV peak
4.0 at earlier today
Sky at peak
clear
Projected peak
AQI 86

PM × Wind × Precip

PM2.5 at 8.5 µg/m³, PM10 at 9.5 µg/m³ — typical background levels with no transport signature.

PM2.5/PM10
0.89
Wind
light
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/m³360
Wheaton, MD
Sky cover · visibility · 24h
Cloud cover
0%
CLEAR
100%0%−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Visibility
115.2mi
UNLIMITED
111 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
20:39 UTC · Wheaton, 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
20:39 UTC · Wheaton, MD · NOAA NESDIS / STAR · 5-min cadence · up to 10000 px
Wheaton, MD
Satellite · infrared · animated
Wheaton, MD
Loading IR frames…
IR · cloud-top temp© RainViewer · Carto
Wheaton, 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 50m
Sunset
4:37 PM
Civil dusk
9:10 PM
Planting note
Harvest early potatoes. Begin drying onions on the surface.
Wheaton, MD
The moon
Waning Gibbous
79% illuminated
Moonrise
11:00 PM
Moonset
10:12 AM
In sign
♓︎ Pisces
Wheaton, MD
Microseason
Jul 1–5

Cicadas claim the afternoon

plant
Jan 151% of the yearDec 31

Read this microseason across nine climate regions →

Wheaton at a glance

  • Today vs. normal: 27°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 — Wheaton

  1. Sat100°76°20%
  2. Sun95°74°47%
  3. Mon84°72°79%
  4. Tue90°68°75%
  5. Wed76°69°20%
  6. Thu91°66°26%
  7. Fri90°71°43%
  8. Sat90°68°37%
  9. Sun81°66°22%
  10. Mon82°68°22%
  11. Tue87°64°18%
  12. Wed91°67°33%
  13. Thu93°69°37%
  14. Fri85°72°42%
  15. Sat91°70°44%
  16. Sun86°70°46%

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

Live wind & temperature near Wheaton

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 — Wheaton

SPC has placed Wheaton 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

Wheaton's warmest month is July (~78°F mean) and its coldest is January (~32°F). Rainfall peaks in August (4.2 inches) and bottoms out in October (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

In Wheaton, NOAA NCEI 1991-2020 normals put January near 32°F and July near 78°F — a 46°F seasonal arc — with about 41.5 inches of precipitation over 175 rainy or snowy days.

Wheaton'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 Wheaton's rain calendar. It is a balanced pattern Wheaton shares with places like North Kensington, MD, Glenmont, MD and Kensington, MD.

Once Wheaton passes mid-April, overnight freezes fade and peas, lettuce, spinach, and radishes can be sown. Heat-demanding starts go out a fortnight on in Wheaton, after the soil warms and cold snaps clear. By mid-November, frost is back in Wheaton — protect or harvest anything tender. Wheaton's low ground holds frost later into spring than Wheaton's benches, which run 3-5 days ahead.

Similar climates: North Kensington, MD, Glenmont, MD, Kensington, MD, Kemp Mill, MD, Garrett Park, MD.

Frequently asked

When does it freeze in Wheaton?
Wheaton's last spring frost lands near mid-April, and in Wheaton the first fall frost follows around mid-November.
What is the rainy season in Wheaton?
Wheaton sees its heaviest rain in August (around 4.2 inches), part of roughly 42 inches a year.
What is the warmest month in Wheaton?
Wheaton peaks in July, when the mean runs near 78°F.
What is the coldest month in Wheaton?
January is Wheaton's coldest month, averaging about 32°F.
When can I start a vegetable garden in Wheaton?
Around mid-April, start frost-hardy crops in Wheaton; tomatoes and basil belong a fortnight later.
How many rainy days does Wheaton get?
Wheaton averages about 175 days with measurable rain or snow each year.
What hardiness zone is Wheaton?
Because Wheaton bottoms near 32°F in January, that winter low sets Wheaton's USDA zone — verify by ZIP.
What is the 10-day forecast for Wheaton?
Wheaton'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 Wheaton?
See this week's day-by-day rain chances for Wheaton in the daily forecast above, and the next 24 hours in the hourly chart.
What is the weather like right now in Wheaton?
Current conditions for Wheaton and the next 24 hours — temperature, precipitation chance, and wind by the hour — are in the hourly forecast chart above.
How often is the Wheaton forecast updated?
The Wheaton forecast on this page is built from Open-Meteo weather-model data and refreshes regularly through the day.
When are sunrise and sunset in Wheaton?
Today's sunrise and sunset times for Wheaton 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 Wheaton?
The next few days in Wheaton's forecast are the most reliable; accuracy declines beyond about a week as weather-model uncertainty grows.

Climate

In Wheaton, Maryland, the warm-summer humid continental climate runs from about 32°F in January to 78°F in July, a 46°F seasonal range.

Rain and snow bring Wheaton roughly 42 inches a year across approximately 175 measurable-precipitation days.

From 39.0°N, Wheaton sees a 46°F seasonal swing that governs Wheaton's planting and frost windows.

All cities in Maryland →

Washington, DC weather →

ZIP codes in Wheaton

  • 20906
  • 20902
  • 20915

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.