It's Hot Out; Pandas to Eat Fruity Ice Pops

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IT'S GOING TO BE HOT out today. But it's August and you already knew that. The hazy, humid soupy mess that has been the weather pattern for days now will worsen today and tomorrow, with temperatures approaching the century mark and sky-high dew points making it feel like it's 105 or 110 degrees. There's a heat advisory for the afternoon, so expect hot, sweaty, irritable customers for this evening's rush hour on Metrorail. Because of Code Orange air quality conditions, Northern Virginia bus services will offer free rides.

As The Post's Nick Miroff reports, the National Zoo is taking extra measures to ensure that its animals don't bake in the sun, "including a round of fruit-filled ice treats for pandas and other languid quadrupeds." Tai Shan is pictured here clawing at a giant frozen fruit tree he got for his second birthday last month. Just the thing to lead into a post-lunch nap.

Perhaps we as a hot, tired nation should push our lawmakers on Capitol Hill to introduce mandatory afternoon siestas, like some have been doing in Hungary. Don't expect that anytime soon, though — Congress adjourned for its August recess over the weekend.

» "Hottest Weather of the Summer Today and Tomorrow
Heat Indices as High as 110 Possible" [Capital Weather]
» "Highs to Approach 100 for 2 Steamy Days" [WaPo]
» "Hungary May Vote on Introducing Siesta" [Reuters via MSNBC]
» "Congress Recesses Amid Democratic Achievements" [Reuters via ABC News]

Photo by Sarah L. Voisin/The Washington Post