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Dangerous heat wave spreads across two dozen states into July 4 weekend
A prolonged heat wave that began in the Midwest on Monday has moved east and is forecast to keep heat indices above 100 degrees through the holiday weekend. Cities from Boston to Washington, D.C., are expected to feel like 104 to 113 degrees on Friday and Saturday.
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A dangerous heat wave that began in the Midwest on Monday has spread across more than two dozen states in the Midwest, South and East Coast and is forecast to continue into the Fourth of July weekend. The heat index reached 110 degrees in Philadelphia and 111 degrees in Washington, D.C., on Thursday.
New York City recorded an actual temperature of 100 degrees in Central Park, the first triple-digit reading there since 2012, while the heat index hit 106 degrees.
Holiday travel and power demand Amtrak canceled more than two dozen trains in the Northeast because of the heat. New York City activated its heat emergency plan and opened hundreds of cooling centers. Officials urged residents to conserve electricity.
"Proactively conserve electricity if safe to do so by setting air conditioning units between 75 - 78 degrees and avoiding unnecessary appliance use," one statement said.
Overnight conditions and weekend outlook Minimal overnight relief is expected, increasing health risks. On Friday the heat index is forecast to reach 104 degrees in Boston, 109 degrees in New York, 111 degrees in Philadelphia and 113 degrees in Washington, D.C. By Saturday the Northeast is still expected to feel like the triple digits, with a heat index of 102 degrees in New York and 108 degrees in Washington, D.C. By Sunday and Monday the heat and humidity are forecast to settle over the Southeast, where Raleigh, North Carolina, and Savannah, Georgia, could feel like 107 degrees.
Extreme heat remains the deadliest weather-related hazard in the United States. At least 13,000 Americans have died from heat since 2018, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data.
