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Heat Wave to Intensify Across Central and Eastern United States This Week
A prolonged heat wave will intensify across most of the central to eastern United States starting June 29. More than 100 million people face Level 3 or Level 4 heat risk, with highs in the 90s to low 100s and heat indices up to 115 degrees.
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A prolonged, dangerous heat wave will intensify across most of the central to eastern United States this week, the National Weather Service stated on June 29. NOAA's Weather Prediction Center said some all-time high temperature records could be set later in the period.
Ninety million Americans live where an extreme heat watch or warning is in effect, with tens of millions more under heat advisories.
com. A heat dome will develop, strengthen and grow in size over much of the central United States through the Independence Day weekend, AccuWeather meteorologist Alex Sosnowski said. The dome will expand into parts of the East for several days and affect more than two dozen states at full extent.
High temperatures in the 90s to low 100s combined with high humidity will produce heat indices of 100-110 degrees, locally as high as 115 degrees. Overnight lows will only drop into the 70s, providing little relief. More than 130 million Americans in southern and Great Plains states were under moderate to severe heat risk over the weekend.
Temperatures are forecast to intensify across the lower Great Lakes, mid-Atlantic, and the Mississippi and Ohio River valleys, with several consecutive days above 100 degrees possible. Major cities including New York, Chicago, Washington and Dallas will be impacted.
Daily record high temperatures will be threatened in dozens of locations from Tuesday through Saturday, with more than 100 daily records potentially tied or broken.
Charlotte, Cleveland, New York City, Pittsburgh and Washington are among the cities where records could fall. New York City's Central Park could reach 100 degrees on Thursday for the first time since July 2012. Washington could see three or more consecutive days of 100-degree heat for only the eighth time on record.
More than 100 million people are in a Level 3 “major” or Level 4 “extreme” heat risk from the Deep South to parts of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan and Maine, and as far east as New York and Boston on one or more day this week. Severe wildfire conditions are developing across the Western U.S. Hot, dry and windy weather in Utah, Colorado and Arizona has already led to three firefighter deaths and two injuries near the Colorado-Utah border.
