Heat wave sweeps central U.S., moves to Northeast, impacts 125 million
The National Weather Service warned that a prolonged heat dome would bring near-record temperatures across the central and eastern United States ahead of the Independence Day weekend. NBC News estimated daytime highs in the 90s to 100s with heat indexes up to 114 °F, affecting about 111 million people. CBS News added that more than half of the country would see high temperatures and humidity through the Fourth of July weekend, with indexes reaching 115 °F. NPR reported that dangerous heat and humidity would affect most of the nation, urging precautions. CNN noted that the heat dome would push near-100-degree temperatures and high humidity into the Midwest, Mid-Atlantic and Northeast, prompting health warnings.
The New York Times later said the system was moving eastward, placing over 160 million people under extreme-heat warnings and driving temperatures above 100 °F from the Midwest to the Northeast. CNN and the BBC reported that temperatures along the I-95 corridor were expected to reach the upper 90s to low 100s with heat indexes above 110 °, leading officials to expand cooling resources and limit Independence Day events. The Guardian confirmed that at least 25 people died in more than 20 states as the heat wave persisted, with heat alerts covering over 140 million people. Yahoo described severe thunderstorms that accompanied the heat, causing power outages, evacuations and flood watches for up to 34 million people in the Northeast. Overall, the heat dome kept temperatures 15-25 °F above normal for about a week, breaking dozens of records and affecting more than 125 million Americans with alerts, cooling-center openings and health advisories.
