D.C. Heat Wave 2012: Hot And Humid Conditions To Dominate Weekend Weather

WASHINGTON -- The National Weather Service has issued an excessive heat watch for the D.C. and Baltimore metropolitan areas for Friday. According to an advisory issued Thursday afternoon, high temperatures on Friday will head into the upper 90s with heat index values approaching 110 degrees.

While Thursday's high temperatures are expected to top out in the mid-90s, the humidity is not so bad. That will change Friday as the combination of high temperatures and humidity will increase the risk of heat exhaustion and heat stroke.

People are advised to limit time outside, drink plenty of fluids and check in on elderly relatives and neighbors.

The hot-and-humid pattern will be in place into early next week, with some chances of rain through the weekend, according to Capital Weather Gang.

Metro will allow rail and bus passengers to carry and consume bottled water from Friday to Monday during the duration of the heat wave.

The air mass that will settle over the D.C. region has been responsible for excessive heat in states in the West, Great Plains and Midwest. Hundreds of temperature records have been shattered this week during the intense heat.