Baltimore Is About to Shatter an 84-Year-Old Record This Wednesday as a Summer Heat Wave Sends Temperatures Into the Upper 80s and Possibly 90 Degrees — And the Records Only Get Harder to Beat by the Weekend
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND — Baltimore is staring down one of its most significant heat events in decades this week, and the record books from as far back as 1896 are about to be tested. A new all-time daily record high is likely on Wednesday, potentially beating a mark that has stood since 1941. Temperatures are forecast to climb into the upper 80s across the city with 90 degrees sitting within the margin of error — and the heat does not let up through the weekend.
A Week of Heat That Does Not Look Like April
The Baltimore April 13 through 18 temperature outlook, sourced from NWS Baltimore Climate Normals and Records and issued April 12, 2025, puts the entire week in stark perspective. Normal high temperatures for Baltimore this time of year sit in the mid to upper 60s — yet every single day this week is forecast to run 15 to 20 degrees above normal, with some days pushing the margin even further.
This is not a brief warm spell. This is a sustained, week-long heat event that builds day by day and keeps challenging records from Monday all the way through Saturday.
Day by Day — Forecast Highs Versus Records
| Date | Day | Normal High | Forecast High | All-Time Record High | Record Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 13 | Monday | 66°F | 82°F | 89°F | 2023 |
| April 14 | Tuesday | 66°F | 87°F | 91°F | 1941 |
| April 15 | Wednesday | 67°F | 89°F | 91°F | 1941 |
| April 16 | Thursday | 67°F | 89°F | 90°F | 2012 |
| April 17 | Friday | 67°F | 84°F | 93°F | 2002 |
| April 18 | Saturday | 68°F | 86°F | 94°F | 1896 |
Every day this week, Baltimore’s forecast high runs 16 to 23 degrees above the normal high for the date. The gap between what is typical for mid-April and what is actually coming is extraordinary.
Wednesday Is the Day to Watch — A Record From 1941 Is in Danger
Wednesday April 15 is the headline day of this heat event for Baltimore. A new daily record high is described as likely on Wednesday, with the forecast high sitting at 89 degrees against an all-time record of 91 degrees set back in 1941 — a record that has stood for 84 years.
90 degrees is within the margin of error for Wednesday, meaning the models cannot rule out Baltimore hitting 90 and potentially tying or breaking that 1941 mark outright. Even if the record holds by a degree or two, an 89-degree reading in Baltimore on April 15 would itself be a remarkable and historic temperature for this date.
Thursday April 16 also carries record potential, with an 89-degree forecast sitting just one degree below the all-time record of 90 set in 2012. Forecasters note that a record on Thursday is also possible, making the middle of this week a back-to-back record threat.
Monday and Tuesday — The Warmup Before the Peak
The week does not start slowly. Monday April 13 opens with a forecast high of 82 degrees against a normal of 66 — already running 16 degrees above what Baltimore typically sees on that date. The all-time record for April 13 is 89 degrees set in 2023, so Monday stays well below record territory but still delivers an unusually warm start to the week.
Tuesday April 14 accelerates the warmup sharply, with a forecast high of 87 degrees against the all-time record of 91 degrees from 1941. Tuesday puts Baltimore firmly in record-challenging range and sets the stage for Wednesday’s likely record attempt.
The Weekend — Records Jump Higher and Become Harder to Break
While Wednesday and Thursday represent the most likely record-breaking opportunity, the heat does not end there. Friday and Saturday present their own challenges — but the all-time records for those dates are significantly higher, making them harder targets.
Friday April 17 carries a forecast high of 84 degrees against an all-time record of 93 degrees set in 2002 — a full 9-degree gap that puts the record safely out of reach for now, though 84 degrees on April 17 remains far above normal.
Saturday April 18 is perhaps the most remarkable data point in the entire outlook. The all-time record high for April 18 in Baltimore is 94 degrees, set in 1896 — a record that is now 130 years old. The forecast high of 86 degrees does not threaten that ancient mark, but 86 degrees in mid-April in Baltimore is itself a stunning temperature that would normally be associated with summer.
How Far Above Normal Is This Week?
| Day | Degrees Above Normal High |
|---|---|
| Monday April 13 | +16°F above normal |
| Tuesday April 14 | +21°F above normal |
| Wednesday April 15 | +22°F above normal |
| Thursday April 16 | +22°F above normal |
| Friday April 17 | +17°F above normal |
| Saturday April 18 | +18°F above normal |
Wednesday and Thursday sit 22 degrees above normal — a temperature departure that is almost unheard of for mid-April in Baltimore. Readings that far above the seasonal normal for six consecutive days constitute a genuine and significant heat event, not a brief warm-up.
What Baltimore Residents Need to Know This Week
With temperatures running 16 to 22 degrees above normal for six straight days and 90 degrees within reach on Wednesday, heat safety becomes a real concern even in April.
- Stay hydrated throughout the day — above-normal April heat catches people off guard before they have adjusted to summer conditions
- Limit strenuous outdoor activity during peak afternoon hours Wednesday and Thursday when the heat peaks
- Check on elderly neighbors and family who may be unprepared for heat of this magnitude this early in the season
- Do not leave children or pets in vehicles at any point during this heat event
- Monitor Wednesday and Thursday forecasts closely as confidence in record-level heat increases heading into the peak of the event
The Bottom Line for Baltimore This Week
A record high temperature that has stood in Baltimore since 1941 is likely to fall this Wednesday. A second record from 2012 could follow on Thursday. Every day from Monday through Saturday runs 16 to 22 degrees above normal, and 90 degrees remains on the table for the peak of the event mid-week.
The records at the end of the week — including a Saturday mark dating to 1896 — are higher targets that the forecast does not currently reach. But the sheer breadth of this heat event, running well above normal for six consecutive days with mid-week temperatures approaching 90, makes this one of the most significant April heat events Baltimore has seen in a very long time.
Stay with CabarrusWeekly.com for daily Baltimore temperature updates, record-tracking coverage, and the full heat wave forecast through Saturday April 18.
