D.C.-area forecast: Trending warmer Tuesday before a wickedly hot Wednesday

Today (Tuesday): Mostly sunny and a bit warmer as highs reach near 90 to the mid-90s, but tolerable humidity continues, as dew points hold back in the 50s. Monday’s breezes have faded with mainly light winds from the northwest at around 5 to 10 mph, shifting to come from the southwest by late in the day. Confidence: High

Tonight: Mugginess returns with a few clouds around and lows only dropping to the 70s. Light winds from the south at 5 to 10 mph. Confidence: High

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Tomorrow (Wednesday): We don’t officially have a “Mean Day” counterpart to our “Nice Day” rating, but this day would qualify quite easily. Mostly sunny skies during the morning into midday help temperatures climb toward highs in the mid-90s to near 100. With moderate to high humidity (dew points in the mid- and upper 60s), the heat index should reach 100 to 105. Stay cautious and hydrated if you have to be outdoors. The calendar-record high in D.C. is 101 back in 1952.

Scattered showers and thunderstorms are likely by either late afternoon or evening. Some storms could become strong to severe with damaging winds and large hail. Many spots should see at least see a quarter to half-inch of much needed rain, but some could pick up locally heavier totals. Winds are from the southwest at 10 to 15 mph with higher gusts around storms. Confidence: Medium

Tomorrow night: Scattered showers and thunderstorms remain possible during the evening and overnight, with partly to mostly cloudy skies as lows cool to the mid-60s to low 70s. Confidence: Medium

Thursday and Friday are mostly sunny days (maybe some lingering cloud cover early Thursday) with more seasonable highs in the upper 80s along with low to moderate humidity. Just a slight chance of a late-day or evening shower or thunderstorm each day. Thursday and Friday nights should be partly cloudy with lows in the 60s to near 70 Thursday night, and into the 70s with more humidity Friday night. Confidence: Medium

The weekend features the return of moderate to higher humidity with hotter highs in the low 90s Saturday and mid-90s by Sunday under partly sunny skies. Shower and storm chances increase again, especially on Sunday the way it looks now. Saturday night should be partly to mostly cloudy and muggy with a shower and storm chance as lows hover in the mid- to upper 70s. Confidence: Medium