Heat wave expected to break records across Midwest and East through July 4
The National Weather Service warns that a widespread heat wave will affect more than 180 million people in the Midwest and East, with temperatures and heat indices approaching record levels through the Fourth of July.
A major heat wave is forecast to move from the Midwest to the East and persist into the Fourth of July, bringing high humidity and temperatures that could approach all-time records in parts of the mid-Atlantic. The National Weather Service’s experimental HeatRisk product indicates that over 180 million Americans are at risk of major or extreme heat-related health issues.
Extreme heat watches, warnings and advisories have been issued across the eastern half of the country, with some alerts stretching from Florida to the Upper Midwest. In the Northeast, highs in the mid-90s are expected from Virginia to New England and upstate New York, while the I-95 corridor could see triple-digit temperatures from Thursday through Saturday. Philadelphia may match its record streak of three consecutive 100-degree days, and New York City could record its first triple-digit high in Central Park since 2012.
Washington, D.C., is projected to reach 100 °F for three consecutive days, potentially setting a new record for the airport. Overnight lows in major cities such as Philadelphia, Baltimore, New York, Boston and Washington may remain at or above 80 °F, limiting nighttime relief.
In the Midwest, highs in the 90s will extend into Upper Michigan, with heat indices making conditions feel like triple digits in cities including Milwaukee, Chicago, St. Louis and Minneapolis. Record-high temperatures are possible in the Ohio Valley and southern Great Lakes, with Detroit potentially approaching a triple-digit reading for the first time since 2012.
The South will continue to experience persistent heat, with some areas likely to exceed 100 °F and heat indices well above 100 °F from Texas to the Carolinas. Relief is expected to arrive later in the week for parts of the Midwest and New England, and by early next week the heat dome may shift westward, moving the greatest warmth back to the Plains and the West.
